Capturing automakers' attention

Ford and BMW are using motion-capture technology typically found in Hollywood to refine vehicle designs.

When shopping for a new vehicle, typically the first thing customers do after looking at a vehicle's exterior is open the doors and get into and out of the vehicle. The ease with which people enter and exit plays a major factor in determining customer satisfaction with a vehicle-a determining factor so important that automakers are now willing to invest significant time and resources in refining it.

“[Ingress/egress] is something you do all the time,” said Gary Strumolo, Manager, Ford Research and Engineering. “So we're always interested in understanding what makes a good ingress/egress design. What is it about the vehicle that enables you to get in and out easily? And in order to do that, you really have to see how people do that.”