According to Gizmag, True3D is a technology that wants to put your GPS navigation data right in front of your face, taking even more of the guesswork out of driving in unknown areas. But this isn’t just a matter of putting a GPS map in front of your face. This information is blended into the landscape you’re driving through. The road guide would have 3D depth, showing you exactly where to drive. Point of interest would have markers above them. And there could even be virtual road signs to go along with the standard navigation far (street maps, for example).
A working prototype for True3D exists as a proof-of-concept, but its California-based creators, Making Virtual Solid, are currently working on a way to bring it to market after winning the European Satellite Navigation Competition in Munich, Germany. I need this in my life. [Making Virtual Solid via Gizmag]
Sean
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 8:26 AMThe guiding line looks good, and a few pieces of contextual information are tolerable, but cluttering it up with virtual building signs? Sounds terrible.
david
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:51 AMNo doubt you would be able to turn off what functions you don’t want.
But imagine how smart these systems could get. Integrated with something like Siri.
Driving through a strange city at 9pm at night, you say to your car “I want to find a best western hotel”, suddenly any in the available area are lit up with signs.
Shane
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 8:44 AMSpeed zone indicator
John
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:16 AMno ads?
i am akuma and i will teach you the meaning of pain!
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 10:07 AMThe ad will play for 30 seconds before the actual guide will appear.
Sardo
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11:18 AMI’m figuring that the deer the sign refers to will also light up like a Christmas tree when it steps onto the road, or will it be lost among all the other ‘relevant’ information?
I'm_a_PC
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 12:48 PMHave you ever focussed on water drops on your windscreen while you’re driving? It’s as good as driving with your eyes closed.
This could *potentially* increase accidents.
Graeme
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 2:46 PMThey sorted that decades ago. The windscreen isn’t used as a projection screen but as a reflector, so the image is not focussed on the window. The projection kit is set up so that it’s in focus at a predetermined distance. It’s only a few metres in cars, but in planes it tends to be at infinity.[1]
[1] Source – My dad (he used to design HUDs for fighter jets).
Argh Bee
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 2:28 PMReally? That’s awesome.
The early version I’ve seen on this in cars (Nissan Bluebird SSS) was not that advanced and required a change in focus (and direction).
Ammusionist
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 3:09 PMI guess we buy the “Pro” version to turn off the virtual billboards!
MrTaco
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4:15 PMThis is something I’ve wanted for ages, because it’s a real pain in the arse trying to look over at the street directory sprawled out on the passenger seat, hoping you hit any red light you come to just so you get more time for a quick glance over. Driving solo is the worst.
Almost had something like this going when I put the directory on the dashboard, and the bright light of the sun was reflecting it on the windscreen. Except then it was mirrored :P