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Stuttgart - Innovations in the automotive world would continue forever. Now a team is exploring the possibility to use the steering wheel which is based on touch-screen technology.

A team of researchers from the University of Stuttgart, University of Duisburg-Essen and Germany Research Center for Artificial Intelligence are currently working together to create a prototype of the steering wheel that uses the touch screen.

Moreover, the steering controls can also be done with a touch screen integrated with the windshield. So they're hoping all the information and features on the car like a radio up to the navigation map can be seen in the windshield.

That way, the driver does not have to turn his eyes from the road when they want to enjoy or control this feature when traveling.

The basic idea of this technology development is actually quite simple, because of more widespread and advanced technology in mobile phones makes the rider draw his attention from the road to their mobile phone, steering with a touch screen and glass functional car is expected to maintain the attention of motorists.

Albrecht Schmidt, a computer science professor who worked on this project as quoted from physorg, Monday (13/06/2011) believes that by creating this steering wheel, the driver will be able to more focus on the road.

Steering wheel is made of acrylic which has a 11 millimeter thick that is surrounded by an infrared LED. There is an infrared camera attached to the acrylic base which detects reflection when the screen is touched.

In addition, the movement can also be done on the screen without the driver must touch their hands off the wheel.

To create a prototype, the researchers asked participants to make their body movements in order to create a command signal to 20 commands. A movement such as pinching two fingers to zoom in on the screen has also been included in the testing.

Once the researchers have set all the different common commands and record the usual gestures of drivers, the researchers then asked the participants to test this steering wheel in the simulator.

And the result, data from study showed that the prototype of this steering wheel can significantly reduce the amount of time riders from something that could take his eyes off the road.

On the road, the researchers also believe that their technology can be combined with technology that can check road conditions and traffic and give a warning alert to the driver.

The prototype of this innovative steering wheel has been presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. The researchers also reportedly is in talks with auto companies to look at the possibilities apply this technology into the vehicle in soon.