Personal transport has reached a pivotal point in its evolution as self-driving cars shift drivers’ focus away from the road and towards the interior cabin, where an array of technological distractions are being developed to help them work, play, shop or socialise.
Experts predict autonomous cars will become mobile entertainment/infotainment ‘pods’ where consumers watch immersive films and TV, game in virtual reality (VR), or use windscreens as a lens to the outside world using augmented reality (AR) to overlay content and advertisements.
Concepts for self-driving cars feature interiors that more closely resemble luxury private jets than vehicles from the past, with flexible interior layouts, swivel seats and big screens.
As car makers, tech giants and electronics firms pump millions into R&D, policy makers are changing regulation to pave the way for a future where immersive in-car entertainment is the norm.
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