Touchscreens are becoming common and touch pads – like those in the Audi A7, A8 and next A3 – are gaining traction, but the next input revolution might not be gesture controls, it's likely to be "smart fabrics" and BMW is already toying with the technology. Researchers at the Polytechnic School of Montreal, Canada have developed a new flexible, polymer-based fiber that can be woven into existing fabrics. Essentially, it's a capacitive pad that can register touches and swipes when alternating current is plumbed through the fibers.
Autoblog, 'Smart Fabric' could control climate, audio functions in future BMWs
