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Pioneer Preps Laser Heads-Up Display For Cars
itwbennett writes "On display at Japan's Ceatec show this week is a heads-up display from Pioneer that links with a smartphone's navigation system. The prototype uses a laser to display bright, high-contrast, full-color images on a screen that would be mounted above the dashboard so drivers don't have to take their eyes fully off the road in order to receive driving instructions from their robot overlords. The demonstration model was hooked up to an Android-based phone and displayed a navigation map on the left-hand side and an animated Android robot on the right-hand side that passed on information to drivers. 'We are currently aiming for an after-market product, but we are talking with car manufacturers,' said Masaya Hashida, tech manager at Pioneer's smart vision business development department."
An anonymous reader points out another gadget shown at Ceatec: a pair of augmented reality glasses that projects information to a user's peripheral vision and weighs only 20 grams.
i can finally watch porn while driving....safely?
Of course, navigation is one obvious application of this, but coupled with a front-mounted IR sensor, it could also provide obstacle detection and highlighting during night time driving.
I wonder what they have in the pipeline!
Yes, but only this film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115964/
There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
I put my trust in the force when I drive, and the plastic Jesus on my dashboard.
.
Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
Do not look forward with remaining eye.
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More distractions while driving. Is it too much to ask that people drive when behind the wheel?
If you NEED to use a phone while on the road please think of the people around you - carpool, use public transportation or take a taxi.
"...an animated Android robot"
Don't be fooled. It's Clippy in disguise.
"You appear to be driving along the edge of a cliff. Can I help you with that?"
So are they at all concerned about the effect of these lasers on pedestrian or on-coming drivers eyes? That said, an IRL minimap is pretty damn cool.
...what happens when the computer or display goes haywire or sends you in to an uncharted area? Do you follow your sense of sight or do you just drive off the cliff? (too bad they didn't have these for Segways)
FTA: "The prototype uses a laser to display bright, high-contrast, full-color images on a screen that would be mounted above the dashboard, between the driver and the windscreen. To the driver the projected images would appear in the lower part of the windscreen."
Gives new meaning to the term 'distracted driving'
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
It should show speed / other gauges as that will be a big help no need to look down to see your speed / look at your car gauges.
...unless your name is Zaphod.
HEY what would be awesome is a 3D color display of the cars, pedestrians and roadway ahead of my vehicle.
that would be awesome!
Many cars already have such a system. Not saying that the laser system couldn't also be used for the task, of course.
But the value of the laser seems to be in its ability to draw shapes that are not predetermined and preprogrammed. Digits or a dial could be useful displayed on the HUD, but so could a graphical display of your car relative to others nearby. It could help parking, changing lanes, and merging.
I, for one, welcome our robot overl...
Hey, how are we supposed to make jokes about overused memes around here?
So, does this mean that Microvision finally solved the green laser issue? From what I remember, their display is absolute badass packed into a box, but the green lasers on the market now are low volume, are expensive and require some fancy tricks to get them to work, making the overall design more expensive among other things.
If they ever get a green laser on par with their red or blues, then man this display will take off and you'll see it EVERYWHERE because it will be low power, small enough and cheap enough to put just about anywhere.
I recall seeing a mockup of a system that would actually project an image on the windshield that would appear to be a line hovering above the actual road (above the tops of the cars) tracing the route you need to take. How long till we get that? Granted, it would have to know exactly where the driver's eyes are in order to make sure the positioning is correct, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Technoli
The last couple of cars I bought I refused the option of a built-in satnav. Nevermind that they are way over-priced compared to portable units - the real problem I have is placement. I can put a portable unit right on the dash in front of me so I barely have to take my eyes off the road. Almost all of the built-in satnavs have their display half-way down the middle console where it is a major distraction to look at. Infiniti, and I think Volvo, used to have satnavs that popped up in the middle of the dashboard so at least the driver did not need to look down into the car in order to see the screen, but for some reason their newer models dropped that design and went to the crappy placement.
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
Will it integrate with my car's weapon systems?
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
For about a second I thought this article was about Pioneer Prppping a new LaserDisc gadget.
I need to stop living in the past.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Why haven't we had this sooner? Seems a no-brainer to put most car display on a HUD. I'm talking basic automotive display not navigation or other distracting display. We need this NOW. Maybe more people would be more conscious of what they are doing, what the condition of the car is and gee, keep their eyes up and more on the road.
Just my $.02
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involuntary manslaughter futures are looking up!!! Buy buy buy!!!
Requisite comment about sharks and fricken' lasers.
Lasers should be installed on the OUTSIDE of the car, dammit!
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
And some people I know doubted we will see it during the whole upcoming decade. Now, I need to figure out the best layout of body function sensors and translate their readings to a 0-100 numerical values, to be displayed in the corner. Ammo value might have some practical limits...oh well, a crowbar doesn't need it.
Augmented contact lenses would be even more optimal.
One that hath name thou can not otter
I'm curious as to how long this project has been in development. I remember, way back when I was going through my "pimp my ride" phase, more than once did the thought cross my mind to set up a laser graffiti system for my windshield. I figured if people can draw on walls or even buildings with that stuff, why not my own car ? I actually ordered the gadget and tried it out, but it was shooting through the windshield and was more visible from outside than in. I didn't know shit about light polarization back then so I flogged it on eBay and used a touchscreen instead... but this would have been late 2001 or so.
I'm largely a PC and audio geek, but I figure a laser geek would have succeeded where I failed, so surely someone else must have already created this tech long ago ? With all the (often pointless) tech ricers cram into their cars, and the constant race to have the blingiest bling, even by sheer statistical probability someone would have stumbled upon it out of curiosity.
-Billco, Fnarg.com
keeping the frikkin' sharks carrying the lasers alive behind the dash.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
This style of HUD has been available on Corvettes for over a decade...
It kicks ass!
OSX pwns.
Blue screen in size of whole windshield?