You don’t need to always wear a VR headset to enjoy the Metaverse, especially if you can just stay in your self-driving car and be at your office even while on your way to your vacation.
CES 2022 was the first time in two years that the annual event returned to face-to-face interactions. Almost ironically, a lot of the showcases there revolved around virtual experiences, particularly the kind that the Metaverse movement is trying to push. Being physically present in one place while also virtually experiencing a different location at the same time is one of the biggest premises of this convergence of technologies, but most of those involve wearing some form of headset, be it VR goggles or more stylish AR glasses. LG has a vision for the future mobility and tries to demonstrate how one can work, relax, or do both while traveling to another location.
Designer: LG
Like so many futuristic cars, LG’s OMNIPOD has screens. The screens extend beyond the dashboard and front panels. They also cover the roof, sides, and ceiling. LG calls it an “expansive tunnel screen” or “Meta-environment screen,” and it’s the part of the car then tries to immerse the rider or riders in a virtual environment or, alternatively, give them a peek of the outside world without opening any windows.
The car isn’t just about displaying videos or virtual offices, though. Every part of the vehicle is designed to make a person feel like they’re in anything but a moving car. There’s a modular mini-fridge, for example, that even includes an induction range on top for cooking on the go. Depending on what you need, the OMNIPOD’s spacious cabin can double as an office or recording studio. The car’s screens can be changed to make it appear as though you are actually working, which may help to increase productivity.
Given the events of the past two years, there are also elements of sanitation in this moving living space. For example, an “Air Shower” blasts passengers with negative ionized water to kill germs and dust, and an LG Styler holds your clothes and shoes until they are ready to be worn again. And after each trip, the car’s virtual assistant Reah will flood the cabin with UV light and get robot vacuums rolling to prepare for its next use.
While some of these technologies might already be available today, all these futuristic conveniences hinge on electric vehicles perfecting their self-driving capabilities. The LG OMNIPOD does have the option of manual driving, but without the typical steering wheel and controls anyway. It’s not going to replace RVs and cabins on wheels, especially with its lack of bathrooms and kitchens, but LG’s vision of future mobility does interesting points and questions, like how humans of the future might find it harder to be physically social when they don’t even have to step out of their cars most of the time.
