German automotive company Continental is seeking to establish a leading position in pioneering the smart car of the future, and biometric technology is factoring into those efforts in a big way, as attendees will discover at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show.
In addition to enhanced in-vehicle displays, cloud-based software updates, and dynamically adjusting tinted glass, Continental’s new cars will sport sophisticated in-vehicle biometrics systems. One new option is a fingerprint sensor tied to ignition, ensuring that only an authorized driver can start the car; together with an ignition key, it’s Continental’s version of vehicular two-factor authentication. Another system personalizes various vehicle settings, including seat and mirror positions, using facial recognition.
The efforts reflect a broader trend as vehicle and automotive component makers embrace biometric technologies, which will ‘radically transform the driving experience,’ according to a recent Frost & Sullivan report. Recently, for example, Jaguar Land Rover filed a patent that would use facial recognition to unlock car doors for approaching drivers, and GM was revealed to be working on a facial biometrics system that would help to monitor driver alertness in semi-autonomous cars.
With its newly announced technologies, Continental appears to be at the forefront of this trend. Consumers attending CES will be able to see for themselves, with Continental planning to showcase its offerings throughout the four-day event.
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