Hyperloop to Feature 'Augmented' and 'Interactive' Windows (inverse.com)

An anonymous reader writes about the much-anticipated Hyperloop transportation system: Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, took to the stage at SXSW to announce that the Hyperloop will have "interactive panels" as windows. Through these "augmented windows," users will be able to "look out" at "motion capture technology." He added, "Based on your position, we're actually manipulating the image. [...] It's psychologically really important and great to have the possibility to look out the window."

Comments

At SXSW

[tripleevenfall]

At SXSW, motion captures you!

Windows?

[Joe_Dragon]

The last thing we need is brakes.sys has caused a system error please hold down start to reboot the system.

Re:Windows?

[CanEHdian]

I call bullsh1t! In Windows 10 build 293837 you will not get very detailed error messages like that, instead you will see a screen with a "frownie" and the words "oh-oh rebootie time!" beneath it.

First things first . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

How about an actual working prototype before you start working on the window treatments?

Re:First things first . . .

[Mr D from 63]

It's psychologically really important and great to have the possibility to look out the window."

If by 'windows', they mean 'display', and if by 'motion capture' they mean 'show video', then I'd say the psychological need might not be met. But hey, I travel all night in a plane with the windows closed, the psychologically important thing to me is arriving on time. Show me a movie.

Re:First things first . . .

[Mr D from 63]

But.... if they can create a window display that really looks like a true window scene and moves as your perspective does, then it might be more useful in places like cubes/office with no windows.

Uhmmmm

[PinkyGigglebrain]

How about we get a Hyperloop system WORKING before we start talking about how passengers will be able to play with the windows.

Re:Uhmmmm

[Darinbob]

You build the windows first, then build a house around them. At least that's what the marketing department wants me to do.

Re:Uhmmmm

[CanadianMacFan]

Sounds like the last development shop I was in except that would have been the last iteration.

The project would have been to build a house so the first iteration would have built a grass hut. The client says "No, we need some bedrooms because it's for a family of four." Tear down the hut and build a bungalow cabin consisting of a main room and a three bedrooms in back. "Oh, I was thinking something with two stories." So, tear down the bungalow and ....

Re:Uhmmmm

[guruevi]

It's kind of important to know whether or not windows are possible at all in these things before you build them. Some issues I might see is the weight of the windows or the issues when the windows fail (either by inherent forces of the system or internal/external damage (bird strike, crazy person)). Also it might be important to know what the physiological reactions of your passengers will be if they zoom by the countryside at Mach 1 (or eventually higher) speeds, I think motion sickness may be a big issue if you can look out the window but your eyes can't lock onto an object, so why bother with windows if half of your passengers puke with them, and how many people can or like sitting in a tin can for hours without any either real or simulated windows? How heavy will those displays be and their power requirements and what do we need to show so people still have a sense of location and time.

Re:Uhmmmm

[Teancum]

Other than the fact that the test track is currently under construction and test vehicles are also being built by a dozen different teams including a couple of commercial enterprises that plan on installing them in the not too distant future. It isn't as if there is a lack of effort in trying to figure out how to build the capsules themselves.

So all other issues are already solved?

[ffkom]

They haven't built a single track or vehicle yet but discuss how cool the window-displays might look. Maybe one or the other potential investor would rather like to know how they could make building Hyperloop tracks at all affordable in comparison to conventional high-speed railways, and other mundane stuff...

Re:So all other issues are already solved?

[Aighearach]

If you don't have a track, vehicle, or approval to build a route, WTF else are you going to be able to work on right now?!

The first ones would be only for the rich, and you can't have real windows for technical reasons relating to the nature of the whole idea. So you have to overcome that if you want any early adopters. Getting the right features into the public mindset might be the only useful thing for many of them to be doing right now, and until other more physical steps get completed.

Re:So all other issues are already solved?

[DrXym]

A wild guess but I expect the people designing the interiors and passenger experience are not the same people who are designing the actual tubes, control systems or pods. There is no reason that these activities can't happen concurrently like they do for aircraft, trains etc.

Generated Content

[Waffle Iron]

Hopefully they'll make the visuals as cool and disturbing as the tunnel boat ride in the original Willy Wonka film.

Re:Generated Content

[wonkey_monkey]

Or the trip through the monolith in 2001.

Or keep it simple - just abstract shapes and lines moving smoothly past. Then, every few minutes, just to screw with everyone, make it all twist through 180 degrees.

Let's build the thing first

[barc0001]

Before we worry about the creature comforts. Personally I wouldn't care if there weren't any, it's supposed to be a car in a vacuum tube that goes supersonic speeds. I'll trade off not looking out a window for a faster trip, personally.

They're creating a new market

[mykepredko]

Imagine that instead of watching California go by, you could see... Barsoom or a land of dinosaurs or an alien landscape?

Would certainly provide some interesting entertainment to the hyperloop experience.

why not on airplanes

[tomhath]

Maybe you could look out the window and see a gremlin messing with the engines, or something like that. Anyone get the reference?

Focus.

[westlake]

I like to see a little more attention paid to problems like evacuation from the tunnel. The HyperLoop is, after all, essentially a more or less airless pipe mounted high on pylons.

So basically like a theme park ride

[DrXym]

Anyone who has been on the Hogwart's Express in Universal Studios will know what I mean - it has train compartments with "windows" but the windows are just screens playing a movie in sequence with the journey. So you get to see countryside, flying cars etc instead of the far less impressive sight of the park's backlot.

Who cares?

[wezelboy]

This is the kind of douchebag bullshit I expect from SXSW.

Who cares about interactive screens? I have one that fits in the palm of my hand. Get the other shit done.

Monorail!

[jonhorvath]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Maybe a furry ape-guy in a suit?

[gerald.edward.butler]

Get that reference?

Airbus

[JohnStock]

Airbus proposed this a couple of years ago for planes and I'm sure it even featured on /.