Audi has filed a patent with the European Patent Office proposing the use of the driver’s side window as a loudspeaker, enabling communication with people outside the car without lowering the glass. Additionally, a microphone integrated into the side mirror would relay the speech of those outside into the cabin. The system may also include a translation function to overcome language barriers, enhancing convenience and accessibility.
Contact-Free Communication in a Post-Pandemic World
With the global pandemic still fresh in the collective memory, Audi’s patent makes a lot of sense to prevent the transmission of viruses or communicable diseases by allowing vehicle occupants to communicate with people outside the vehicle while avoiding any direct contact. Audi says that the system allows allergy sufferers to keep the windows closed, while the HVAC system’s pollen filters block any other potential allergens, keeping the air inside the vehicle safe and allergen-free.
Turning Car Windows into Acoustic Amplifiers
Audi uses the glass as an acoustic amplifier to transmit speech, similar to the glass screen of a modern smartphone. A large window should provide plenty of volume to make the driver’s speech audible. A microphone in the side mirror will then receive the speech of people outside the vehicle and relay it to the interior via a dedicated speaker or, more likely, the car’s audio system’s speakers.
Breaking Language Barriers with Smart Translation
Audi says that this system would be offered with an optional translation feature to overcome language barriers. While it enables speech from outside the vehicle to be translated into the driver’s language, Audi has not clarified whether the system supports reverse translation or allows drivers to select a preferred output language.
Balancing Practicality and Protection
While windows would have to be opened for various reasons, such as at drive-through services, when collecting or paying for a parking tag, or when interacting with law enforcement – who would likely not be amused with being addressed through the window glass – Audi’s system is interesting in the way it can minimize the transmission of viruses and allergens.
