Posted in: Movies | Tagged: Batman, intel, Warner Bros

Warner Bros and Intel Want to Turn Your Car into VR Batmobile While You're Driving

Published Sat, 02 Dec 2017 13:25:40 -0600

Last updated Sat, 02 Dec 2017 19:13:10 -0600

In an announcement that seems totally safe and isn't terrifying at all, Intel and Warner Bros are teaming up to provide virtual reality and augmented reality experiences inside automatic-driving cars. Yes, this sounds like a truly fantastic idea.

From a blog post on Intel's website:

Advancing what's possible in autonomous driving, today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Intel announced a collaboration with entertainment company Warner Bros. to develop in-cabin, immersive experiences in autonomous vehicle (AV) settings. Called the AV Entertainment Experience, we are creating a first-of-its-kind proof-of-concept car to demonstrate what entertainment in the vehicle could look like in the future. As a member of the Intel 100-car test fleet, the vehicle will showcase the potential for entertainment in an autonomous driving world.

As cars drive themselves, people will be able to enjoy an immersive fictional experience, the plan seems to be, keeping them highly entertained right before they die in a fiery crash. Just kidding. According to Intel, pretending you're Batman while your car drives itself is actually safer than keeping your eyes on the road.

We believe the technology Intel is bringing to market is not simply about enjoying the ride – it is about saving lives. In fact, autonomous systems are the logical extension of seat belts, air bags and anti-lock braking systems. And the Mobileye ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) technology on the road today is already saving lives. Current ADAS products from Mobileye have proven to reduce accidents by 30 percent, saved 1,400 lives, prevented 450,000 crashes and saved $10 billion in economic losses. However, we cannot stop there. Our long-term goal has to be zero driving-related fatalities.

Here's what you can expect from the Warner Bros and Intel AV Entertainment Experience:

With this expansion of available time, Warner Bros. and Intel imagine significant possibilities inside the AV space. Not only do we see passengers consuming content ranging from movies and television programming, we imagine riders enjoying immersive experiences never seen before, courtesy of in-cabin virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) innovations. For example, a fan of the superhero Batman could enjoy riding in the Batmobile through the streets of Gotham City, while AR capabilities render the car a literal lens to the outside world, enabling passengers to view advertising and other discovery experiences.

Yeah. This will be what driving is like in the future:

Warner Bros and Intel Want to Turn Your Car into VR Batmobile While You're Driving — Photo Courtesy Warner Bros.

And you know what? It may sound crazy and kind of scary, especially when you consider how many vehicles Batman has destroyed in his pursuit of criminals, but we think we're actually okay with this. Yes, it sounds dangerous. But it also sounds pretty damn cool.