Hyundai and Los Angeles County Museum of Art have
teamed up to unveil the "first neuroscience-applied" concept car at
the Art+Technology LAB. Dubbed The Roadable Synapse, the neuroscience concept
was conceived by artist Jonathon Keats and the car is based on the Ioniq.
Described as a "speculative alternative to
driverless car technology," the concept explores how a person's cognitive
processes could be interpreted to provide sensory experiences while traveling.
In particular, it presents four ways to augment the driving experience in
next-generation passenger vehicles which are "unified by one core idea: On
the road, the car is the driver's body, and the driver is the car's mind."
As Hyundai explains, the vehicle speed is conveyed
to the driver by adjusting the tempo of the soundtrack playing on the stereo
while the car's aerodynamics are noted by adjusting the left and right speaker
balance. Likewise, the RPM level is indicated via an increase or decrease in
the soundtrack pitch while driving efficiency is revealed by the level of
distortion in the audio system.
The technology will probably never show up in
production models but Hyundai Motor Vice President John Suh said "We are
constantly exploring how new forms of mobility can help us overcome current
transportation limitations. Engaging with art and technology projects allows us
to explore this field in entirely new ways."