Holograms could one day keep watch over your car

DETROIT: Ford has filed a patent in which holograms simulate a presence inside or outside the car to deter thieves.

While this unusual approach seems inconceivable today, the concept is no less innovative.

It comes in the wake of hologram singers, bringing deceased artists back to life on stage, and hologram politicians, hosting events simultaneously in different cities.

Ford has filed a surprising new patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

It describes a highly advanced holographic system, capable of projecting a holographic image close to the vehicle.

This can be used in a number of ways.

The simplest is to help you find your car in the dark, on a dark day or simply in a large parking lot. But in theory, this system could also project a silhouette both inside and outside the car.

The aim would be to dissuade thieves from approaching the car by making it appear as if there were someone in the vehicle, or a security guard or even a vicious dog nearby.

This type of holographic system does not yet exist, nor has it been demonstrated. In any case, the technology could only fool potential criminals in a dark environment.

In the long term, however, it could be a highly original tool in the fight against car theft.

In the automotive sector, one of the latest examples of the use of holograms was showcased in 2023 by Opel, with its Experimental concept car.

Inside the cabin, holograms were projected onto the dashboard to provide driving and infotainment information. This technology eliminates the need for screens. Not quite as ambitious, perhaps, but no less practical.