Virtual Cable – The Future of GPS?
I’ve often pondered the possibility of a GPS not being a device that sits on or in your dash, but rather built into the car’s windshield as a heads up display (HUD). I’ve even had a few interesting conversations with some execs at one of the major GPS companies about it. Seems I’m not the only one who things this could be possible. A company has recently debuted what they are calling Virtual Cable that offers something pretty close to that goal.
A typical GPS has a few flaws. They tell you to “turn right in 500 feet”… but how far away is that? They tell you to turn on “Oak Street”… but the sign is too far away to see until you get right on it. And while they do a pretty good job of simulating what the roadway looks like.. you need to take your eyes off the road to view the screen of the GPS.
Enter the Virtual Cable. Just follow the red line being projected on your windshield on your way to your destination. Want one for your car? Well, there are a couple of problems at the moment. First, the product is still in the design stage and second, “it will only be available as an option in a new car”. Bummer… but someday I imagine that won’t be the case. For now, just drool over the demonstration videos.
[Thanks, Infama]
Bummer, but none of the links work for me from work. I’ll have to give it a try when I get home.
Something that could fit the bill for a HUD could be the OLED technology as it can be manufactured on flexible surfaces, meaning a GPS could come with an OLED in the future that you affix to your windshield.
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/shedding_light_on_oled_displays/C1
(page 2 under “More Versatile Form Factors” for information regarding flexibility etc.