Touchless touchscreens?

What does the future hold when it comes to technology and how we interact with it as humans?

How about a screen that predicts what you‘re going to press before you’ve even pressed it?

It’s 2020, and the majority of the population owns a piece of technology with a touchscreen—whether a phone, tablet or laptop. Many businesses take advantage of touchscreens as well, such as McDonald's and KFC, to make it easier for customers to order their food.

So, what is ‘Predictive Touch’?

This new technology is the work of Jaguar Land Rover’s Human Machine Interface Group and their collaboration with the University of Cambridge. It uses sensors to keep track of a person's hand and predicts which button they intend to press. This is part of the company’s drive to improve vehicle cleanliness and safety, as it reduces the amount of time drivers spend with their attention on a touchscreen and not on the road, e.g. when using their satnav, hands-free phone system, etc.

JLR tech specialist Lee Skrypchuk said: “The technology also offers us the chance to make vehicles safer by reducing the cognitive load on drivers and increasing the amount of time they can spend focused on the road ahead. This is a key part of our Destination Zero journey.”

This is just one step that Jaguar Land Rover have taken to improve drivers’ experience. What do you think? Will this technology make a difference? Do you have your own ideas in this respect? Tweet us at @intheknowemag