[Jason]

BMW has teamed up with Microsoft to come up with this futuristic car configurator touchscreen. BMW's Product Navigator resembles the action of an iPhone, utilizing hand motions to operate the configurator. The tabletop touchscreen interface enables users to pick a BMW, modify colors and content, and even save the finished project to a thumb drive for the customer to take home. As customers configure their vehicle on the Product Navigator, a plasma TV on the wall displays video and specs of that exact vehicle.

Hi-resolution version of video: http://www.bmw-web.tv/en/video/Egpev...ct%20Navigator

[Cloud9blue]

lol, wats the point...

[mapezzul]

They already use something similar at the Welt when you take delivery.

[amgthis]

wow

[2kaccordocoupe]

Meh, it looks cool however it's not practical. I would rather design my car in the comfort of my own home than have to stand in line at a BMW retailer.

[PLAYON]

No thank you Franz.

[FStop7]

What's wrong with the Flash based configurator? BMW really likes to overcomplicate things.

[nusevad]

cool, its like minority report.

[wooter]

Multitouch is the future, though

http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

[SoCali E36]

Originally Posted by vonsazkin

i don't see the advantage. i'm fine using my computer mouse for this than moving my hands around a glass surface table.

however, i would totally love to use some thing like this at least once so i can see how well Microsoft's software works...like perhaps try to crash the thing by moving my hands in all directions really fast.

oh and if the thumbnail flash drive comes free after you configure it, well, you can go there every other day and accumulate a bunch of flash drives.

[Bimmer Nerd]

wow, do they really expect BMW owners to be amused by this ? i mean isn't this available at bmw website ? only you have to use your mouse instead of your hands, big freaking deal. show this to kia or hundai customers they might like it.

[white90]

Isn't this the exact same thing as the Microsoft Surface??? I mean it is nothing new, just finally someone is using it in practice. Anyway, this would be cool!

[TK-421]

It's like Tony Stark's computer in Iron Man.

[Spaceman Spiff]

No iDrive knob?

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by vonsazkin

nice video. neat technology. but what if you have three rectangles to move around at one time? i assume you stick your face to the screen and use your tongue and hands to move things around. that would be amusing to see.

In normal everyday use, I don't see why you would have to.

[TheCyrax]

I love Microsoft Surface

[RockyDogg]

Anyone at RSNA? If so, go by the McKesson booth, they have one of these on display.

The Surface is definitely cool.

[Year's_End]

that's so useless/awesome. useome or awesless.

[528imsport]

I like it.
Me and my son will spend hour playing with it.
But I don't think they will have this in HK

We can think of worse things to do than spend a day at a BMW dealership configuring the vehicle of our choice. To make the experience of selecting the Ultimate Driving Machine even more engaging, BMW and Microsoft have teamed up on futuristic touchscreen tech. BMW's Product Navigator is like the iPhone, only supersized and on steroids, and it proves that the inventive types at Microsoft are alive and well. Hit the jump to view BMW's new Product Navigator in action. The tabletop touchscreen interface enables users to pick a BMW, modify colors and content, and even save the finished project to a thumb drive to take home with them. As customers configure their vehicle on the Product Navigator, a plasma TV on the wall displays video and specs of that exact vehicle. Neat

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/30/v...-microsoft-su/

[yashBMW]

what if some jealous asshole came from hyundai and broke it.FUCK!
Its useless
just looks cool
why the hell should i go all the way to a bmw dealer to use that when i can turn on my computer and build it in less than 5 mins.
Useless but cool to look at

[jollerbarn]

Originally Posted by vonsazkin

however, i would totally love to use some thing like this at least once so i can see how well Microsoft's software works...like perhaps try to crash the thing by moving my hands in all directions really fast.

I tried the Surface at the PDC in Los Angeles this year, and damn it's hard to crash the thing. Basically it's calibrated for four people with 10 points each (one for each finger). On top of that it handles smurging which is what happens when you sit on it or mash your whole hand on it. One of the presenters would even stand on it and it still didn't break. I suppose if the software written for it by BMW is bogus you could crunch it, but it's some pretty impressive hardware underneath.

[jollerbarn]

Originally Posted by godora

wow, do they really expect BMW owners to be amused by this ? i mean isn't this available at bmw website ? only you have to use your mouse instead of your hands, big freaking deal. show this to kia or hundai customers they might like it.

We're the enthusiast crowd.. most people wouldn't dream of posting something about their car on a forum While picking up my car last week I actually witnessed a "normal" customer asking the sales person for advice and he was asking normal person questions. For these people I bet this would be great fun.