JAKARTA - Apple's long-awaited Apple Car could have a virtual display on the inside instead of a clear window. The tech giant has filed a patent for a virtual reality (VR) vehicle system that matches a 'virtual display' with the physical movement of the car while it is running.
For example, if a car is speeding downhill, the system can project a virtual image of a rollercoaster ride. The seats in the car will move to match the visuals, much like an immersive '4DX' cinema experience.
Concept images of what the car will look like have been circulating on social media, leading to ridicule from some users, who compared it to a coffin.
Concept drawings existed before the patent was made, although they show a black car with a sloping roof without many windows. This Apple Car is made by Concept Creator and LetsGoDigital, and is not Apple's own design.
The Apple Car has been in development for over a decade, but there's no word on when it will be officially announced. The new patent was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office and was registered on May 3 last year.
"VR systems can provide virtual displays that match visual cues to the physical movements experienced by passengers," Apple said in the patent, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.
Shame about having to flip it over to charge it though https://t.co/skVGltBRiF pic.twitter.com/cRotD25joi
— robwormald (@robwormald) May 19, 2022
Apple also stated that VR systems can provide immersive VR experiences by replacing real-world views with virtual environments. Active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems can be integrated with VR systems to provide physical effects with virtual experiences.
That virtual environment can be changed to accommodate passengers after determining that the passenger is vulnerable or showing signs of motion sickness.
"Cars will be able to 'project or display virtual frames onto at least one vehicle window," Apple said, to provide passengers with a virtual 3D view.
Passengers do not need to wear virtual reality masks; instead, the interior of the car will be the mask itself.
For this particular design feature to work, the car will be fully autonomous, and will drive itself along a pre-programmed route. But it seems that the public is not too interested in the potential of the design.
One Twitter user, @ItsDanSheehan, said: "I've always wanted a casket that can do vehicle killings."
@nowstartthegame also posted an image of a car sailing off a cliff with the words: 'love my apple car'. And @OrdinaryGamers joked: 'I know Apple doesn't like Windows, but come on.'
Apple claims the design could help combat motion sickness, which passengers typically experience when they watch movies or look at screens in cars.
Motion sickness occurs because of a conflict between the senses – when our eyes detect motion but the rest of our body does not.
"Autonomous vehicles may have limited or no windows, and thus the movement that passengers experience in those vehicles may not match what they visually see, potentially causing motion sickness," Apple said.
The Apple Car has been eagerly awaited for years, with several design companies creating artistic renderings of what it might look like.
Last year, Devanga Borah, a mechanical engineer at the University of Tezpur in India, revealed a rendering of a strange white car consisting of a round pod that rotates about 360 degrees on four wheels.
Reminiscent of Apple's eMac computers from 2002, the vehicle is painted a glossy white and features the Apple logo between the front and rear wheel sets.
British car leasing company Vanarama also created an image of a sleek gray vehicle with sharp corners and a glowing Apple logo on the radiator grille.
The Vanarama design also includes a customizable touchscreen dashboard and Siri-like 'intelligent auto assistant' to keep an eye on driving.
"While there is virtually no way of knowing what the finished product will look like, this patent is perhaps the best indication of the direction Apple is taking," said Vanarama CEO Andy Alderson.
In 2016, ConceptsiPhone made a video of a possible prototype Apple Car, featuring a wide dashboard display, connectivity to other Apple devices, and the company's trademark minimalist design.
Recent reports suggest that Apple's car work is still ongoing, although the tech giant has been very secretive about its progress.
In November, it was revealed that Apple had hired Christopher Moore, the former director of software at Tesla Autopilot.
"This move shows Apple is plowing through its efforts to develop self-driving technology, a high-stakes race with automakers like Tesla," Bloomberg said.
Moore joined a division known for its secrecy. But Apple never publicly announced its car plans, due to and frequent changes in the division.
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