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Automated vehicles are just one aspect of the driving experience Google is investigating, with news emerging that the company has won a patent where gestures can manipulate in-car controls.

The idea is to help drivers remain focused on the road because as in-car technology increases, so does the amount of controls required to use it. Even speech-to-text solutions can cause their fair share of distractions.

Early on in the patent, Google states that the vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode, hinting that that the gesture features may well be a part of the firm’s driverless project.

Cameras’ recording

Google intends to attach cameras to the car’s interior that capture movements made by the driver around certain areas of the car. One example given by the patent involves a driver swiping by the car window to open it.

It will be possible to tap, point, grasp, pinch or wave to change the content on an entertainment system, modify the air conditioning’s fan speed, adjust the position of a seat and start the windscreen among other functions.

The cameras operate by recognising three-dimensional images, which might be certain gestures in a specific region and how that corresponds to the car controls. It is able to hands, fingers, arms, legs and head based on their colour or tone.

While the system is an improvement on drivers having to manually change the controls, there may be a steep learning curve involved in learning gestures. Having cameras permanently installed on the inside of a car might also cause some debate.