Hitachi shows off finger-controlled steering wheel

Rest assured, there are plenty of steering wheels on the road right now that happily accept finger commands, but Hitachi's latest invention takes things one step further. The so-called finger vein authentication system can apparently be customized for a certain driver so that simple presses can adjust one's seat, load up a given playlist, tweak the equalizer, crank the AC or start up the engine. Moreover, such a system provides an additional layer of security against theft or unwanted drive-offs (think mischievous children). Reportedly, Hitachi is still unsure if / when this will actually hit vehicles on showroom floors, but a ballpark figure of "three to four years" was thrown out there for good measure.

[Via AFP / Yahoo]

[L. Cyphre @ Oct 26th 2007 6:03AM]

Nooo! I meant 'lower the windows' not 'fire the quantum torp*BOOM!*

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 26th 2007 9:51AM]

My DRIVER SIGNALING SYSTEM iis already middle finger controlled.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 26th 2007 9:51AM]

My DRIVER SIGNALING SYSTEM is already middle finger controlled.

[ethana2 @ Oct 26th 2007 12:40PM]

That's what you get for running your car on microsoft code.

Windows slur detected.
...blue screen capability not present.
..self destruct sequence... broken.
Firing torpedoes.

Lol. I still want to build my car from parts and run it with Linux :) Start out with all the right peripherals, and once you get around to the software, you could make it drive itself.

[tintin @ Oct 26th 2007 6:42AM]

Big whoop. They need to identify, using a single fingerprint reader ($20 item available at any crappy computer store) the driver when they start the car. One time id would provide for loading all sorts of presets from memory, like seat position, favorite radio stations, environmental control settings (of course tuned to ambient temperature along with my personal preference with regards to devation from ambient temp) playlists, fave destinations in the navigation system etc. etc. etc.

WTF is so bloody advanced about this that it takes 3-4 years (if they want to bring it to market at all, vs. just trying to stay current and in the blogs).

The brainiacs at Hitachi need some creativity lessons.

[Shawin @ Oct 26th 2007 6:44AM]

Waouwww.
Will the car greet you after authentication?
"Conishuwa Mr Hitachi. Where do you want to go today?"

[V.I. @ Oct 26th 2007 6:44AM]

Interesting to see how this will work with Automatic Start.

[Twitchy @ Oct 26th 2007 6:49AM]

BMW and Mercedes (and probably other manufacturers) offer multiple keys with specific identifiers so that when used to unlock the car everything from seats, mirrors, temperature and even radio are set to the that drivers previous settings. The only thing they don't offer is the security thing, but that'll be bypassed by thieves soon enough.

[Kyle in FL @ Oct 26th 2007 10:22AM]

my 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee has custom seat positions and stereo presets that are linked to the different key fobs and/or can be changed by pushing the "1" or "2" on the door.

[seoultrain @ Oct 26th 2007 11:33PM]

I have hands.

[Moonwhaler @ Oct 26th 2007 8:28AM]

Interesting, indeed! Although, I can control my steering wheel only with my hands.

[enzo @ Oct 26th 2007 10:24AM]

There are many of drivers who use certain finger commands to navigate during rush-hour... that usually makes things worse though, I think.

[ethana2 @ Oct 26th 2007 12:45PM]

Pardon me if I'm looking at the road instead of your fingers. That's just how I drive.

[mb @ Oct 26th 2007 11:54AM]

Hopefully it will detect if the user is Asian, and refuse to start the car.

[ethana2 @ Oct 26th 2007 12:42PM]

Hey, I just thought of a brilliant idea for randomly alienating some of the world's most intelligent people! We'll call it hardware-accelerated racism. Want to hear more?
no.

...no.

[mb @ Oct 26th 2007 12:52PM]

Ah. "Race" defines intelligence now? I made a joke, you made a blatantly racist statement. Good work! Kettle, pot, etc...

[Galley @ Oct 26th 2007 12:42PM]

Reminds me of those 70s Chryslers where you squeezed a rubber strip on the rear of the steering wheel to honk the horn.

[ethana2 @ Oct 26th 2007 12:48PM]

I still say horns don't tell you enough.

They can be anything from a 'Watch out!' to a 'Get outta my way, %*¢ºþħ!!' (special characters courtesy of colemak)

I say just put a powerful loudspeaker in the front of your vehicle and a mic at the top of your steering wheel.

[CaliforniaKid @ Oct 30th 2007 12:49AM]

Hitachi advertising tag line: "Give us the finger. We dare ya!"