HARMAN Partners with Ultrahaptics to Bring Custom Haptic Sensations to the Connected Car
February 16 2017 - 04:00PM
Business Wire
New Haptic Technology Keeps Drivers Focused on the Road by
Controlling Commands with Sensations
HARMAN International (NYSE:HAR), the premier connected
technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise
markets, today announced the development of a mid-air haptic
feedback system, developed in partnership with Ultrahaptics, an
organization dedicated to creating a connection between people and
technology by using ultra sound to project sensations onto a hand.
The new technology allows drivers to control infotainment and audio
systems with hand gestures, enabling them to keep their eyes on the
road and lowering cognitive distraction while driving. Reducing
driver distraction is critical as distracted drivers are
responsible for accidents that daily claim more than eight lives
and cause 1,161 injuries in the United States, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In collaboration with Ultrahaptics, HARMAN has created a mid-air
haptic system featuring sophisticated sensations that can control
multiple in-vehicle systems, including audio infotainment
functions. The system creates haptic sensations that track the
driver’s hand movements, which then gives feedback for various
gesture commands. The haptic solution allows drivers to simply move
their hands in the air and feel the controls to adjust their
embedded infotainment system.
“As cars become more connected, driver safety has never been
more important, which is why HARMAN constantly works to deliver
solutions designed to keep drivers safe on the road,” said Stefan
Marti, VP, Future Experience, HARMAN. “Our haptic feedback solution
makes the driving experience safer by enabling drivers to keep
their eyes on the road while still maintaining intuitive control of
infotainment and audio systems.”
HARMAN worked closely with Ultrahaptics to design this unique
system combining custom haptic sensations, gestural interfaces and
HARMAN’s custom visual interactive Graphic User Interface (GUI).
This solution from HARMAN and Ultrahaptics showcases a unified
system with a highly-integrated haptic and audio-visual
component.
“Partnering with HARMAN to combine expertise from both
organizations has enabled us to develop a unique solution that will
improve driver safety,” said Steve Cliffe, CEO, Ultrahaptics.
“Technology and connectivity continue to be further integrated into
our lives, particularly in the car, requiring organizations to
consistently innovate to deliver technology that will change how
drivers interact with their vehicles to keep them safer while
driving.”
ABOUT HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and
solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide,
including connected car systems, audio and visual products,
enterprise automation solutions; and connected services. With
leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®,
Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by
audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they
perform around the world. More than 25 million automobiles on the
road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car
systems. The Company’s software services power billions of mobile
devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure
across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN
has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas,
Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $7.2 billion during the last
12 months ended December 31, 2016. The Company’s shares are traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
HAR-C
© 2017 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights
reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson
are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated,
registered in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a
trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States
and/or other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are
subject to change without notice.
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HARMANDarrin Shewchuk, +1 203-328-3500Senior Director, Corporate
Communicationsdarrin.shewchuk@harman.com
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