MERCEDES-BENZ COMAND INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM TO GET GESTURE CONTROL!

In-car infotainment systems have come a long way since the decade when voice controls on in-car systems never actually worked. An early generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class came with a similar system that was rubbish. Over the years automakers have copied, redesigned, improved and then copied some more to make their systems as slick as possible. It was not until the second half of this decade, that operating COMAND, i-Drive or MMI became humanly possible. Technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and with this the struggle to make the in-car infotainment systems user-friendly continues.
Mercedes-Benz might have cracked into the next generation of infotainment systems in cars with their latest COMAND. The revamped system will incorporate different apps, search as well as advanced navigation tools. 3D technology could also make its way into the small screen in your car in a few years time. Mercedes-Benz is involved in research of new 3D displays that could pave a way for future systems. The old voice controls never worked properly as the system had to operated via a specific set of voice commands apart from which the system brain could not understand any other words.

The focus now is on making the systems as driver friendly as possible and which would need the least amount of driver attention. Mercedes engineers are now working on voice commands with natural language dictations to get over the shortcomings of the past systems. Users will now have to just dictate what ever they want the system to do, be it emails, text messaging or browsing the internet. One of the newest developments has been gesture controls and Mercedes-Benz is is looking into handwriting recognition and gesture controls for interior lighting.
The new COMAND will also incorporate apps like Facebook and Twitter along with Stitcher radio and Pandora. Google’s StreetView technology and Panoramio will also be available in the COMAND of the future. The new system will be installed on the C-Class, E-Class and the B-Class cars in Europe to name a few and we could see the new revamped COMAND in Mercedes’ in India as well.