Head Mounted Display Suitable for Driving

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Scott in SoCal - 01 May 2008 15:16 GMT

Is there such a thing? Something that will project a
computer-generated image in front of you without affecting your normal
vision of the world around you?

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John B. - 02 May 2008 15:46 GMT

> Is there such a thing? Something that will project a
> computer-generated image in front of you without affecting your normal
> vision of the world around you?

Man, I hope not. Then we'll have to contend with drivers watching "I Love
Lucy" reruns on their windshields. "But Loooocy! Es so RIDICULOUS!"

I actually had a heads-up display in my '95 Grand Prix GTP and I LOVED it.
Mainly having the digital speed right on the windshield. Don't know why
most cars don't offer that as an option. Looking at the "old style"
speedometer in my '05 Mustang GT sucks majorly in comparison.

John B.

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Jim Yanik - 03 May 2008 02:58 GMT

>> Is there such a thing? Something that will project a
>> computer-generated image in front of you without affecting your
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> John B.

I'm surprised no one has created an aftermarket model that plugs into the
OBD-2 diagnostic port.You could stick it low on the windshield like a radar
detector.(they already make digital clocks that project their display onto
a bedroom wall or ceiling)

I'd also like the thermal night vision option. 8-)

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at
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Scott in SoCal - 03 May 2008 17:18 GMT

>I'm surprised no one has created an aftermarket model that plugs into the
>OBD-2 diagnostic port.You could stick it low on the windshield like a radar
>detector.(they already make digital clocks that project their display onto
>a bedroom wall or ceiling)

The display portion already exists:

http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2007/02/19/gps-based-head-up-display-hud-spe
ed-meter/

Too bad they don't sell just the display with some kind of external
port on it. Then you could hook it up to whatever you want and feed it
whatever data you want to display.

>I'd also like the thermal night vision option. 8-)

Whatever happened to that? Cadillac made a big deal about their
thermal imaging system a few years ago, but it seems to have fizzled
out. Do they even sell it anymore?

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Paul Hovnanian P.E. - 14 May 2008 19:33 GMT

> >I'm surprised no one has created an aftermarket model that plugs into the
> >OBD-2 diagnostic port.You could stick it low on the windshield like a radar
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> port on it. Then you could hook it up to whatever you want and feed it
> whatever data you want to display.

Think of the liability problems if someone plugged their generic HUD VGA
display into a laptop, put in a DVD and got into an accident while
distracted.

> >I'd also like the thermal night vision option. 8-)
>
> Whatever happened to that? Cadillac made a big deal about their
> thermal imaging system a few years ago, but it seems to have fizzled
> out. Do they even sell it anymore?

Good question. I wondered who the target market for that sort of thing
might be. I can see pretty well at night and, although a thermal camera
might reveal warm-blooded objects more readily, the downside would be
the distraction it would present, preventing me from spotting objects at
ambient temperature.

Those that just can't see well enough to drive at night need restricted
licenses, not gizmos to keep them on the road a few more years.

> --
> Proud to be a wreckless driver.

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Ad absurdum per aspera - 02 May 2008 17:22 GMT

I know that other drivers can be irksome, but mounting and displaying
their heads sound a little drastic!

> Something that will project a
> computer-generated image in front of you without affecting your normal
> vision of the world around you?

Oh, THAT.

I don't know of aftermarket ones. Integration with the data sources
would be a prominent problem, so be prepared to buy a whole gauge
package if it's possible at all.

A few high-end luxury buckets have had HUDs for several years now,
projecting various forms of data. I think it requires a special
windshield to do this very well under a wide variety of lighting
conditions, though.
http://cars.about.com/od/cadillac/ig/2008-Cadillac-STS-gallery/2008-Cadillac-STS
-HUD.htm

Several of the newest fighter planes have such a display that's based
on a head mount rather than the instrument panel, but they aren't
afraid to spend more on just the helmet than most of spend on a car
(the penalty for coming in second being rather severe in there
business), and the driver has to wear one anyway.

--Joe "The next new-car or rod'n'custom show may prove me wrong" Chew

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Ad absurdum per aspera - 02 May 2008 17:39 GMT

Aside from my inability to spell before my third cup of coffee,
something else occurred to me: does the Z06 have a (dash based, not
head/helmet based) HUD?
If your car is of the same generation, you might be able to retrofit
that ($$$-$$$$) and perhaps the windshield that might be needed to
make it work really well.

I have never looked closely at these things and don't know if these
are "it does what it does" devices or can be readily hacked to accept
and display more-arbitrary data inputs.

--Joe

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Scott in SoCal - 03 May 2008 03:06 GMT

>Aside from my inability to spell before my third cup of coffee,
>something else occurred to me: does the Z06 have a (dash based, not
>head/helmet based) HUD?
>If your car is of the same generation, you might be able to retrofit
>that ($$$-$$$$) and perhaps the windshield that might be needed to
>make it work really well.

You misunderstand - my car has a factory HUD.

I want the Head-Mounted Disiplay to use in other cars, some of which I
may not be able/willing to modify (like rental cars).

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Scott in SoCal - 03 May 2008 02:45 GMT

>I know that other drivers can be irksome, but mounting and displaying
>their heads sound a little drastic!
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>would be a prominent problem, so be prepared to buy a whole gauge
>package if it's possible at all.

Heh heh - that depends on the car. Nowadays, cars have one or more
networks running through them (saves the manufacturers MILLIONS when
they can replace 200 pounds of wiring harness with the equivalent of a
single CAT-5 cable). All that's required is an interface and some
"glue logic."

>Several of the newest fighter planes have such a display that's based
>on a head mount rather than the instrument panel, but they aren't
>afraid to spend more on just the helmet than most of spend on a car

I was hoping there was a reasonably priced one that you can see
through, but all I have managed to dig up so far are "sealed" (i.e.
they have two little LCD screens in front of your eyes which you can't
see past).

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Scott in SoCal - 03 May 2008 17:29 GMT

BTW, here's the sort of thing I'm talking about:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/11/brother-industries-shows-off-eyeglass-mountab
le-retina-scanning/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/lumus-optical-unveils-microdisplay-packin-des
igner-glasses/

Basically a tiny display that mounts to my (sun-)glasses and that is
within my field of view but is still unobtrusive and I can easily see
around and through it for safety while behind the wheel.

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