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GPS Heads Up Display

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    GPS Heads Up Display

    Until recently, heads-up windshield displays for automobiles, much like those in commercial airliners and fighter jets, have been limited to devices that seem like prototypes, and to luxury cars as high-priced options. But car HUD is on the verge of becoming more mainstream, and there are some production units you can buy now, and others that are promised in the near future.

    Manufacturers are taking some different approaches to offering value to drivers.

    GPS Vehicle Tracking
    For example, the Navdy display, not yet available for sale, promises to provide access to your social media and texting via the windshield display, in addition to basics such as turn-by-turn navigation. HUDWAY, available now as a free app, is designed specifically to assist with driving in poor-visibility conditions. Car GPS giant Garmin takes a more pragmatic approach, offering a HUD projector accessory that puts the display of your Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone app on your windshield.

    The point of a HUD is to put vital driving information, and in the case of the Navdy, not-so-vital information up on your windshield and within your line of sight.

    Navdy HUD ($299)
    The Navdy, shown in the accompanying photo, is perhaps the most ambitious aftermarket effort to date. It promises to project turn-by-turn directions, but also provide you with access to audio-driven texting and access to Twitter, as well as your phone, and notifications from Facebook and other apps. It also will use touchless gestures, such as a swiping gesture of the finger, and voice commands to control the interface.

    Navdy Tech Specs

    5.1" wide transparent Head-Up Display (HUD)
    High quality projector
    IR camera for touchless gesture control
    E-compass and ambient light sensor
    Bluetooth 4.0/LE
    Audio out via Bluetooth
    Micro-USB port for developer use
    Dual core processor
    OBD-II power and data connection to car computer, with optional 12 volt power adapter
    Portable, bendable, non-marking, powered friction mount, with magnetic connection to the device
    Dimensions (excluding mount): width: 130mm, depth: 140mm, height: 95mm (including display).
    HUDWAY ($0.99 per month or $2.99 per year)
    While the Navdy and Garmin HUDs represent a more technical approach, including custom hardware, HUDWAY has a simple usage mode and a simple task - to help you see and adapt to the road ahead, especially in the dark and/or during poor, low-visibility driving conditions.

    You simply download the HUDWAY app, subscribe and pay, and then input your destination. To use HUDWAY, you simply place your phone on the dashboard (it displays upside down) and the screen reflection on your windshield is your HUD. The company recommends the use of a non-slip pad for the phone. A voice assist mode will notify you of curves ahead including an image of the curve, as well as the degree of the turn. Think of it as a rally-car co-pilot.

    You can customize many dimensions of the display to suit your style and needs. "HUDWAY provides you with useful information — current vehicle speed, distance to the next sharp curve, and where it is best to slow down," states HUDWAY. "All dangerous turns are displayed in red and prior marks on the road help to visually measure the distance. Distance between each marks is equal to 50 meters (or 200 feet)."

    Garmin HUD+ ($179)
    The most practical implementation of consumer car HUD to date comes not surprisingly from Garmin.

    It's a dedicated projector unit with the following features:

    Projects navigation information onto your windshield
    Provides estimated time of arrival and lane assist
    Offers speed, traffic and safety camera alerts
    Works wirelessly with compatible Bluetooth-enabled smartphones
    For use with Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone or NAVIGON mobile apps
    The Garmin HUD receives information wirelessly from the smartphone. Its projector automatically adjust brightness to keep the HUD display visible to you in conditions ranging from bright daylight to night driving.

    "Using HUD+ is simple," states Garmin. "Just apply the transparent film on your windshield (or attach the included reflector lens) and place the device onto your vehicle’s dashboard. Using your compatible smartphone, download the free Garmin HUD+ app and follow the instructions to pair it with HUD+ using Bluetooth. Once paired, you can enter your destination on your phone and HUD+ will offer turn-by-turn directions to get you there. An integrated USB port on the vehicle power/adapter cable allows you to charge your phone while you’re on the go."

    Overall, car HUD is a promising technology that has the potential to improve safety and to provide a great way to see turn-by-turn directions and other safety information. However, aftermarket HUD makers and car manufacturers will need to find the right balance of information to present in a HUD to prevent distracted driving problems that unsafely divide the drivers' attention.
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