Volkswagen has developed technology that allows interaction between manual controls and self driving cars. This allows the best of both worlds – cars automatically driving themselves but alerting the user of where decisions and value judgements are required with their view from the road and potential nearby hazards. This particular patent filed in Germany specifically concerns a touch-sensitive section at the top of the gear stick that alerts the user of when a decision is needed on how to proceed from a series of options. It alerts the user using a series of coloured lights. The colour of the light depends on the urgency of the decision required (from blue meaning ample time to red meaning ASAP to choose a course of action). The computer system thus gives the user the opportunity and responsibility to choose which course of action to take.
Source: http://bit.ly/2d4VbQl
