How long until GPS becomes integrated into the windshield?

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
You know, just like playing Crazy Taxi... your car's glass wind shield can also have a graphic overlay/heads up display where it can intelligently color the road to follow, draw a floating arrow over that KFC you're trying to arrive to...

That'd be so cool. I thought of this 5-6 yrs ago, and interestingly enough I read an article in Modern Science that they're trying to do accomplish this...

i read the biggest stumbling block is that
even if the wind shield can match its surface drawing to the actual building/road outside
your optical focus cannot do both. one has to be blurred.
so it's very hard
if u focus on a writing on wind shield, you'll end up crashing your car.
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
I'm pretty sure they already have this tech in Fighters. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up in the next few years (especially when OLED tech matures).
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Originally posted by: irishScott
I'm pretty sure they already have this tech in Fighters. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up in the next few years (especially when OLED tech matures).

Although I presume flying is nowhere technically alarming and full of immediate hazards like DRIVING in the city.
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Originally posted by: irishScott
I'm pretty sure they already have this tech in Fighters. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up in the next few years (especially when OLED tech matures).

Although I presume flying is nowhere technically alarming and full of immediate hazards like DRIVING in the city.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cel...-on-the-way-151145.php

If it's transparent/translucent, I fail to see the problem. People already look down at cellphones and other screens. Putting a translucent image on the windshield would actually be safer IMO.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
I thought there were cars that had something like this already for at least the Spedometer.

Shouldn't be hard to do the same thing for the GPS display.
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I thought there were cars that had something like this already for at least the Spedometer.

Shouldn't be hard to do the same thing for the GPS display.

That's just projecting the speedometer onto the windshield. Really simple.

Nothing super complex like integrating the GPS into the windshield where it will constantly MATCH its drawing to the actual view outside world, all callibrated to the vision of your drive without killing people.
 

uhohs

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2005
7,660
44
91
another thing i've been waiting to see are those glass windows for homes that can become opaque with a flip of a switch or push of a button. no more need for blinds/curtains.
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Originally posted by: uhohs
another thing i've been waiting to see are those glass windows for homes that can become opaque with a flip of a switch or push of a button. no more need for blinds/curtains.

Taht's cool stuff... except blinds and curtains also serve as a furnishing & interior design so they won't be replaced.
 

Uppsala9496

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2001
5,272
19
81
This shouldn't be too difficult for them to figure out.
My Pontiac already has a heads up display. The windshield also has the radio antenna embedded into it.

It's just a matter of what information is shown on the windshield.
My heads up display shows speed along with any "warning" statement (usually "Check Guages" for example when my tire pressure is low) and radio station/cd/mp track info when flipping songs/stations.
It doesn't display the full name (just track number), but it could be done if the display was a little larger.
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
This shouldn't be too difficult for them to figure out.
My Pontiac already has a heads up display. The windshield also has the radio antenna embedded into it.

It's just a matter of what information is shown on the windshield.
My heads up display shows speed along with any "warning" statement (usually "Check Guages" for example when my tire pressure is low) and radio station/cd/mp track info when flipping songs/stations.
It doesn't display the full name (just track number), but it could be done if the display was a little larger.

Again that's merely projecting one-way info to the driver. Read above. What I'm referring to involves some pretty serious calculation and AI. (see my response couple posts up).
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
I don't see much value in matching the display to the windshield. Just a regular heads-up with the basic info would be fine. "Right Turn - Union Ave. 1.2 miles"
 

chuckywang

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
20,133
1
0
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
You know, just like playing Crazy Taxi... your car's glass wind shield can also have a graphic overlay/heads up display where it can intelligently color the road to follow, draw a floating arrow over that KFC you're trying to arrive to...

That'd be so cool. I thought of this 5-6 yrs ago, and interestingly enough I read an article in Modern Science that they're trying to do accomplish this...

i read the biggest stumbling block is that
even if the wind shield can match its surface drawing to the actual building/road outside
your optical focus cannot do both. one has to be blurred.
so it's very hard
if u focus on a writing on wind shield, you'll end up crashing your car.

In related news, record number of cars being driven into buildings.
 

OdiN

Banned
Mar 1, 2000
16,430
3
0
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
You know, just like playing Crazy Taxi... your car's glass wind shield can also have a graphic overlay/heads up display where it can intelligently color the road to follow, draw a floating arrow over that KFC you're trying to arrive to...

That'd be so cool. I thought of this 5-6 yrs ago, and interestingly enough I read an article in Modern Science that they're trying to do accomplish this...

i read the biggest stumbling block is that
even if the wind shield can match its surface drawing to the actual building/road outside
your optical focus cannot do both. one has to be blurred.
so it's very hard
if u focus on a writing on wind shield, you'll end up crashing your car.

Simple - don't have a "window".

Have a screen which projects an image. It would project what you would see through the window, with the graphics overlaid on top. So you could just focus on the actual screen plane and not worry about it.
 

TXHokie

Platinum Member
Nov 16, 1999
2,558
176
106
Forget that, how about I enter my destination and the car drives itself there. It probably can drive me there safer than my wife can.
 

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
9,148
0
0
Woohoo, put some numbers on the windshield. This way people can talk on their cell phones and look at their GPS while keeping their eyes on the road.
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
You know, just like playing Crazy Taxi... your car's glass wind shield can also have a graphic overlay/heads up display where it can intelligently color the road to follow, draw a floating arrow over that KFC you're trying to arrive to...

That'd be so cool. I thought of this 5-6 yrs ago, and interestingly enough I read an article in Modern Science that they're trying to do accomplish this...

i read the biggest stumbling block is that
even if the wind shield can match its surface drawing to the actual building/road outside
your optical focus cannot do both. one has to be blurred.
so it's very hard
if u focus on a writing on wind shield, you'll end up crashing your car.

Simple - don't have a "window".

Have a screen which projects an image. It would project what you would see through the window, with the graphics overlaid on top. So you could just focus on the actual screen plane and not worry about it.

How would you exchange facial and motion gestures between drivers through the windshields, then?

Oh I know!!! The OUTSIDE window can also project the video filmed INSIDE. rofl.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
One of my friends from high school is/was an engineer for GM or one of those automakers. He was talking about this about 10 years ago. It's one of those things that I've always wondered why it didn't become commonplace. (Back then, it was more so you could see the speedometer etc. without looking away from the road.)
 

EGGO

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2004
5,504
1
0
They already have things like speedometer and even nightvision if I recall.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: DrPizza
One of my friends from high school is/was an engineer for GM or one of those automakers. He was talking about this about 10 years ago. It's one of those things that I've always wondered why it didn't become commonplace. (Back then, it was more so you could see the speedometer etc. without looking away from the road.)

There are a decent number of cars that have HUDs, but I think most drivers found them annoying.
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: DrPizza
One of my friends from high school is/was an engineer for GM or one of those automakers. He was talking about this about 10 years ago. It's one of those things that I've always wondered why it didn't become commonplace. (Back then, it was more so you could see the speedometer etc. without looking away from the road.)

There are a decent number of cars that have HUDs, but I think most drivers found them annoying.

I have HUD on my Grand Prix, and I absolutely love it. My next vehicle, whatever that might be, will absolutely have to have a HUD in it as well... which I suspect won't be cheap, if they remove it from more and more models.