BMW developing high-tech goggles to help drivers park
The eyewear is currently in development at the German carmaker's research hub in Silicon Valley, California, according to The Financial Times.
The wearable, it is believed, will work similarly to the Google Glass in sharing information on a lens to improve safety and driving experiences. Speed data will be collected, and car sharing and travel update alerts will be projected onto the screen.
The wearable is an extension of the self-parking technologies already installed in new BMW models. Connecting with collision detection sensors and cameras in the vehicle, the goggles will project the car's surroundings (like the pavement, pedestrians or oncoming traffic) onto the eyewear while the car's chassis "disappears" as the driver looks over their shoulder, allowing them to parallel park with ease.
The wearable is just one of the innovations coming from carmakers and tech firms as consumers' appetite for connected and driverless car technologies is growing.
While internet giant Google has made its plans to develop the first driverless car well known, a recent study of car technology patents revealed that traditional automobile manufacturers are leading the pack when it comes to telematics, driverless technologies and in-vehicle connectivity.
The technology, which follows the closure of Google's Google Glass Explorer program, will be showcased at the Shanghai Motor Show in April.