The
sheer amount of
technology companies are willing to throw at your car's dashboard is amazing (well, maybe not
your car -- after all, you're still driving a '76 Gremlin). Taking things up a notch, the folks at
Fraunhofer have developed a dash that displays your location and the surrounding area in 3D, in real time. The system uses cameras to keep track of the location of your eyes, so the depth imaging effect can be achieved without using those funny glasses. In addition to the GPS, the dashboard only displays the information that is most relevant to the driver at any time -- fuel gauge, tire pressure, route information or the title of the song can be displayed, depending on user preferences. It's only a prototype at this point -- be sure to check it out when you hit CeBIT in Hanover this March.
[Via
The Raw Feed]
posted Feb 12th 2009 2:26PM
WOW, new technology ;-)
why? why? why?
a very innovative use of 3d I must say :) I wonder if you can hack it to play UT3 while in park mode :) but yeah, several small in built games would be nice
Couldn't you also just.. you know... look out the window?
I kno thats what i was just thinking. You'll be looking down and sayin "look honey, look at that building" on the screen and she goes "I kno hun look out the window" lol
Looking out the window will not tell you where to go, your fuel level, tire pressure, etc..Im sure with the help of google they can have the Maps display information about the buildings/surroundings...This is something to look forward to..
The HUD will also show a very small image of a virtual driver sitting in his virtual car, looking at the 3D virtual landscape. That way, the driver will be able to get constant feedback and notification of his own status: whether he's hungry, tired, moody, etc. When the driver is lost, a small question mark will appear over the head of the virtual driver on the dashboard, calling the driver's attention to the fact that he is currently lost and should be looking at his dashboard for directional information.
This is going to be a gimmick. I'm pretty sure it uses the same old stereographic technology found in Sega's 3D arcade game Time Traveler. Just some mirrors to try to trick you into thinking you are seeing a 3D image but in reality it is flat 2D, probably a flat 2D video of 3D renderings. I did some work with a company that bought into the same type of technology and thought they were reinventing the wheel but in reality it is old tech and sucks and a wasted investment.
A HUD with relevant information superimposed on the actual 3d real time surrounding environment that is present behind the large glass display (or 'window') is the way to go.
A HUD could get rid of the dashboard almost entirely.
Exactly I need more dash space for Home Simpson style gadgets (popcorn maker, microwave, deep fryer)
@ Michiel:
That's exactly what Toyota has up its sleeves for the new Prius. They have some kind of advanced HUD they're keeping under wraps. I understand from my cousin's husband who works there that they were attempting to make it do the following:
1) track your eye position so it knows your perspective looking at the road ahead
2) project the navigation data (road names, relevant addresses, turn arrows etc) directly onto the glass to look like it's on the road as you drive
3) refresh that image at least 30 times per second based upon where the driver's eyes move inside the car so it is always accurate.
Whether it made it into the 2010 production car, he wouldn't tell me. It would be pretty awesome if they did, but don't count on it.
Sounds distracting...
Won't it be great when engine technology gets this kind of effort?
Exactly! Just think how far we would be.
If the system works by tracking your eyes, what about those who wear dark/mirrored sunglasses?
On a side note, wouldn't a newfangled dashboard like this actually DISTRACT the driver from looking where he/she is supposed to be looking at -- the road? How is this safe? In the quest for adding features to cars, manufacturers have become Microsoft. Can't they just make a GOOD, QUALITY car without the useless fuss? Just look at Toyota, with 5 models of SUVs not counting the Lexus label. My all time favorite car was an 88 Honda CRX. It didn't have power anything (except for brakes, but no ABS) but it was fun to drive, got me where I needed to go in a hurry, got 40+ MPG, and fits in NYC parking spaces. Not to mention it didn't take an electrical engineer (or a FireDog, RIP) to install a new stereo. Manufacturers need to go back to basics and improve on driveability and quality instead of bolting on unnecessary "features".
Preach it, Brother!
The last part of the car that needs reinventing is the dash.
The first? tyres/wheels.
The second, is the engine
You think this is great? Just wait until some lugnut rearends you because they were paying so much attention to the razzle, dazzle display and not noticing you had to make a sudden stop so a flock of ducks could cross the road.
Very distracting.
I would keep looking at it and noting how bad the graphics suck.
Excellent idea, this should keep drivers' eyes off the road for good!
Give me good old analog gauges any day, this just looks gimmicky. 3D? Why?
Holograms come true! Well, sort of...
I am afraid of the day when some smart-aleck hacker decides to add a virtual fist punching the driver so they flinch and crash...
Wouldn't it just be easier to look out your window?
Dude, it's HaNNover!