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Heads-Up Displays for Motorcyclists
An anonymous reader writes "An NYT article describes a new invention by a former racing driver to incorporate displays in the visors of helmets used by motorcyclists. A GPS receiver in the helmet is used to calculate position and speed of the wearer, and presumably in displaying route guidance. I'll bet some horrifying data could be gathered on the speed with which riders' heads impact the pavement after an accident."
Hurm, Detecting attempt of the cloaked url vulnerability in IE, luckily it doesn't work.
Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
Even better, go to a news site that doesn't require you to jump through hoops in order to view their site. Here is the exact same article (NO registration required) found at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Sapere aude!
Perhaps a button on the handlebars to toggle the HUD in the helmet would be appropriate. It would allow the rider to get the information when he wants it, but not be distracting all the time. It would definitely be an improvement over looking down at a gauge cluster, I would think.
Yes it is.
If, for example the speedometer and engine warning lights were in the HUD then the rider wouldn't have to take her eyes off the road to check them. Think about it for a second. The fighter pilots use it succesfully and damn if they don't have more things in their mind than motorcyclists.
The difference to the interior light reflection is that the reflection is on the wind screen but the HUD looks like it was outside the car closer to the objects the rider already looks at. It's "advanced enough" to me so someone else has to explain how exactly it is done.
Antti S. Brax - Old school - http://www.iki.fi/asb/
I would say more, since (1) GPS speed, in my experience, is very accurate, and (2) because motorcycle speedometers are notoriously inaccurate.
Finkployd
Except that 99% of the HUD's around 'float' the display out where you would be looking anyway - it dosent appear to be on the windshield but 10 meters down the road just above the bonnet. So there is no (or very limited) refocus time - its the whole point of the HUD concept - keep your eyes on the target.
Actually the most common danger to motorcyclists is alcohol. The majority of bike accidents do not involve cars, read the Hurt Report.
Don't get me wrong, moron cagers are a danger, but this whole 'down a few beers and ride into the sunset' thing my fellow bikers have such a fixation with has to stop.
Finkployd
I've responded to a handfull of motorcycle collisions in my area and only one of the drivers survived. He was bruised all over and had a broken radius and ulna.
Everyone else died instantly when they slammed into another vehicle, guardrail, divider, or embankment.
It's strange though--even after responding to all these, I still want to get a bike...
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