Using a HUD to read/write texts/tweets? It seems like the creators missed all the studies about the dangers of distracted driving.
And pilots use HUD's so this must be safe? That would potentially hold water, if the pilots were using huds to tweet, text, and select music while landing... instead they're using huds to display important information...
I like the technology, I just don't like the suggested use cases for it...
Precisely. I've long wanted to build a HUD that could project on all the glass surfaces of my car. If I were building a HUD, it should be giving me a "heads up."
The windshield would have navigational aids, but any surface in the car could be used to display hazards!
I want my car to identify if a pedestrian is present (highlighted in yellow) or if they appear to be crossing my heading (highlighted in red.)
I want my car to tell me if there is cross-traffic that is about to run a red light. I'd like to see speed and distance indicators for other vehicles on the road.
I'd love to see the speed of traffic I'm merging into. When I glance over my shoulder to check traffic I can see: !! 64MPH | 72MPH !! in yellow, indicating I should merge faster if I'm able.
If my car detects emergency vehicles or construction vehicles the HUD could draw attention to it in my windows or mirrors.
---
Perhaps my HUD could identify vehicles occupied by "Tweeters" so I can be sure to avoid them?
We're making self-driving cars... there are countless ways to apply that same technology to human-driven cars that would make the roads safer for everyone. If the best they can come up with is song selection and social media: I think their priorities are a bit misaligned.
The very first image at the top of the page just sends chills down my spine. "Check out this rad video!" while I'm about to drive past a row of parked cars in a busy urban area.
Additionally, pilots rarely need second-by-second reactions. There are times when you do, and you want to maintain awareness, but the odds of crashing because you took 15 seconds to look at a map are extremely low. The odds of crashing because you're focusing on details and forget to keep track of where you are or how much fuel you have or other long-term items are much higher. The requirements for awareness in a car are completely different, where a brief lapse in attention can easily get you killed, but the long-term picture is rarely critical.
This should be banned. Really. I don't want this on the same road as my loved ones. When you are driving, you are driving. Not reading/tweeting.
Even more, mounting "something" to the front window is illegal in a lot of places in the world [1]. At least Netherlands and U.S. In The Netherlands operating a phone while driving (voice operated carkit exempt) gives you a ~$250 fine.
Furthermore, obstructing part of your window is dangerous. You could miss something. And it's distracting (our eyes focus on motion).
I totally agree with your comments. Before Navdy, the stuff that distracts you are out of your focus. With Navdy, it bring the distractions right in your view, making it easier and faster to be distracted.
It's warranted for navigation, or possibly things like virtual mirrors. I wouldn't want to see text messages. Why not just use audio if it's so damned important to get the text?
HUD navigation could be cool, but anything that takes attention from driving like showing text messages is a terrible idea and should be banned. Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous. Even hands free phone calls are distracting.
Well, if hand free phone calls are distracting because you're holding a conversation, we should ban talking to your passengers on a car too, right? Even driving with passengers should be banned just in case, and all vehicles be single-seaters or have soundproof glass between the driver and passengers.
Music is pretty distracting to some people. Car stereos should definitely be banned too.
To be fair, both having a conversation and listening to music keep me alert when driving. Yes, it might also produce cognitive overload, but in my case it's definitely better than cognitive underload (boredom).
You know what's by far the most distracting thing to me while driving? Constantly checking my speedometer. In some areas I do it constantly, out of fear of getting a speeding ticket. I don't even want to speed!
Yep anything that engages your language processing: speaking, listening to conversations, singing, etc. interferes with your ability to process what's going on in front of you. Carrying on any sort of conversation, hands-free or no, impairs reaction time and your ability to drive safely.
You're not supposed to talk to bus drivers without good reason, and this is partially why.
I have a HUD in my car - it is great for navigation events and alerts. Turn arrows, street names and lane restrictions are all displayed when navigating. When not navigating it shows speed and alerts. Using the steering controls you can scroll through radio/media options. The image appears to be farther away than what is displayed in this product. That is a very important distinction. By appearing farther away you needn't refocus every time you glance slightly down to view the HUD data. This looks like a translucent screen right in front of the wheel. Not good.
I agree. Navdy should round up all the people in Werner Herzog's texting documentary, ask them to endorse their product, and post that video on their website.
but it's no worse than several displays, screens and buttons that area already present in your car that divert your attention even more than a HUD would.
So where were you fear-mongers when car radios were introduced, or when drive-thrus and eating while you drive was introduced, or when tape players/CD players were introduced, or when mapping/full touchscreen devices in cars were introduced?
This whole "distracted driving" thing is horseshit. If the road is your PRIMARY focus than you can do all of the things I just mentioned and not die. It's really that easy.
I'm not sure that showing off how your new product can make texting while driving easier is the best idea. The whole hands free debate isn't about literally keeping your hands free of objects, it's the psychological distraction of texting/talking/browsing that causes the safety issues. If it were just about keeping your hands free to stay on the steering wheel, people with one arm wouldn't be allowed to drive.
Much of the current public outreach really does focus on people taking their eyes off the road and missing things [0]. Usually in pretty graphic ways [1]. The other main focus is navigation in the car, which pretty much everyone does now, so making that safer is a win.
Your hero image with an example of a HUD should probably not be a prompt to watch a video. That's just about the most dangerous thing that a HUD could ask you to do.
I'm a pilot and was surprised that the Navdy video invoked the "pilots use it -- it's safe" language.
Um, when I'm flying a plane, I don't:
- have other 4,000-lb planes 3' away that I could collide with after a moment's distraction
- compose tweets by speaking aloud while staring at a screen, and then when the voice recognition system doesn't work properly, have to retry multiple times while staring at the screen
- talk on the phone to my mother
- play music while navigating through crowded airspace (some pilots do on longer cross-country trips, of course)
- need to have my airspeed projected in front of me (maybe on takeoff it would be useful)
- have apps pop up notifications directly in my field of vision when I'm trying to focus on one of those 4,000-lb objects that's about to collide with me
- have some of those other 4,000-lb objects near me controlled by people who are composing tweets, etc. rather than focusing on the task of flying
What I do want to be doing is scanning the airspace around me for other planes, scanning my instruments to make sure all is well, etc...
Navdy seems like a good HUD implementation from a technological standpoint, and unlike other folks here I don't think it should be banned. But assuring everyone it's safe because "pilots use it" seems like a statement made without, well, talking to pilots first.
When I read "HUD for your car" I imagined a super cool HUD like the ones in nearly-sci-fi jets showing actually useful info about my crazy driving skills, other objects in sight, about routes and parking stuff, and about the car itself. I really didn't see it coming when it showed people using social media apps. But it's alright as long as it makes HUD displays more popular anyway... I guess!
>showing actually useful info about my crazy driving skills,...
Thanks for the laugh :-)!
This was my first thought as well. I saw a Mercedes the other day with the "lane change assist."
Rather hilariously: I was behind the Mercedes at a right turn, and you could see the "danger" light in her mirror indicating that my little sedan was in the blindspot of her enormous GLK.
(Ironically the tech itself was a distraction _to me_ because I was trying to figure out where the sensor package was, and how sensitive the instrumentation was. I had never seen it that closely before -- perhaps I should go to a Mercedes dealership.)
I want that sort of tech on every glass surface of the car. Anywhere I can see a vehicle: I should be able to see "potential hazard information."
Glad I'm not the only one that thinks driving should be a full time activity. If you don't have a personal chauffeur, you are not important enough to need your phone while driving. If you do have a personal chauffeur, text away Mr./Mrs./Ms. Important.
My 2010 Prius has little monochrome HUD showing speed, navigation info, and power consumption (configurable). Although less fancy than Navdy, it's really useful because you will always see the road in background. Should become a standard in every car.
having felt prey to the "ok google now" scam i will pass this one.
i know i will only be able to control minimal navigation and calls options.
no other app will ever play along. e.g. you skype calls will either block everything or only show up on your phone screen... to the point integration is so bad you still have your phone on the holder next to that screen and in the end you are using your phone directly more than that projector.
Why can't I just have a list of "high priority apps" and "low priority apps", or even just "highest priority" and "everything else."
It's not something an app can solve; but I personally spend a long time trying to ensure that my phone is safe to use as a navigational aid. Currently this usually includes voiding my warranty (to root, jailbreak, etc.) so that I can bypass the stock dialer. -- That just feels _wrong_ to me. I should not be voiding my warranty to make a device safer.
As soon as I saw that it combines OBD II information from the car with turn-by-turn information from Google Maps... and they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee upon receiving it... sold.
States have laws regarding this stuff. So let's look at California, where this company is based:
California
Video Screen Restriction
Hands-free Cell Phone Use Only
Ban on Texting While Driving
Restrictions on Cell Phone Use for Novice Drivers and School Bus Drivers
Law: Prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle if a video monitor, or a video screen or any other similar device that displays a video signal is operating and is located forward of the driver's seat or is visible to the driver. Provides exceptions for emergency equipment.
Statute: California Vehicle Code §2890 (West 2004)
Penalties: No Penalty Specified.
Law: Prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Allows exceptions in emergency situations.
Statute: California Vehicle Code §12810.3 and §23123
Penalties: $20 for first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense.
Law: A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send or read a text-based communication
Statute: California Vehicle Code 23123 (2009)
Penalties: Infraction - $20 first offense, $50 for subsequent.
Law: School and transit bus drivers and drivers younger than 18 will be banned for all cell phone use while driving (regardless of hands-freeheadset).
Statute: 2007 California Statutes, Chap. 214
Penalties: $20 for first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense.
> Law: Prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle if a video monitor, or a video screen or any other similar device that displays a video signal is operating and is located forward of the driver's seat or is visible to the driver. Provides exceptions for emergency equipment. Statute: California Vehicle Code §2890 (West 2004) Penalties: No Penalty Specified.
I recently drove a Citroen rental car with a HUD display. It only displayed critical info: gear, speed, cruise control mode, and next gps turn.
This is just a gimmick. I would never, ever want it to display tweets or whatever distracting content, just because you can still see the road doesn't mean it won't take away your attention. Until we have self-driving cars there is no technology that will magically make it possible to multitask while driving...
Yes I definitely think there is a real need for HUD for our car. Kudos for the Navdy team for such a brave attempt.
Few challenging tasks ahead for Navdy team like:
1. I get tonnes of marketing SMS, It should recognize which SMS should be delivered to HUD might depend the ratio of conversation I make with the sender and decide based on that? (Yeah I live in other side of the planet)
2. I might not need integration with Twitter and other social media accounts they are definitely not meant to get my focus while driving
3. As per other HN commenter, it would be awesome if it can recognize the signals or detect objects ahead of some 10m and warn me and get me a path way to ride? determine the pathway depending on the car dimensions ? (Yes, I live in India and commuting here in city is really makes you very skillful in driving :), something like in Captain America 2 film wind sheild? Yeah I know easier said than done )
4. May be get them the HUD view of rear and help me to drive reverse without need to turn around ? (Asking for too much?)
I'm surprised the OBD II port is capable of powering something like this. I hope they aren't cheating by running off the onboard battery while running and charging while the car is off.
Interesting idea, but certainly the demonstrated applications seem to be awful. Now, a HUD with map and information about upcoming traffic & road conditions would be useful.
I would feel a lot safer if this product did not have an emphasis on something like texting.
If it detected you were at a red light, maybe it might be appropriate to display such, but please, not while a kid might be running in front of you, ignorant of your presence.
Why are people comparing Navdy with not using a cellphone at all. That isn't the point of this device. People use their cellphones while driving, and are going to continue unless the government can physically prevent it all the time. This device isn't trying to prevent all types of distracted driving that cellphones create, but to minimize it. As a whole, the public is going to not only use cellphones to the level they are now, but are going to increase their usage. If the usage is going to increase and people will not stop using their phones while driving, isn't it better if they use Navdy? This is a good idea, but I think it's too pricy to convince people to stop. The tech costs too much in order for most users to decide to get it. Ultimately car manufactures will create their own in-car tech through partnerships with the big tech companies that will do it better for cheaper. Or it will be packaged in with your car and you won't notice the 1.5k charge when you are paying 30k for the car.
[+] [-] tshile|11 years ago|reply
And pilots use HUD's so this must be safe? That would potentially hold water, if the pilots were using huds to tweet, text, and select music while landing... instead they're using huds to display important information...
I like the technology, I just don't like the suggested use cases for it...
[+] [-] drbawb|11 years ago|reply
The windshield would have navigational aids, but any surface in the car could be used to display hazards!
I want my car to identify if a pedestrian is present (highlighted in yellow) or if they appear to be crossing my heading (highlighted in red.)
I want my car to tell me if there is cross-traffic that is about to run a red light. I'd like to see speed and distance indicators for other vehicles on the road.
I'd love to see the speed of traffic I'm merging into. When I glance over my shoulder to check traffic I can see: !! 64MPH | 72MPH !! in yellow, indicating I should merge faster if I'm able.
If my car detects emergency vehicles or construction vehicles the HUD could draw attention to it in my windows or mirrors.
---
Perhaps my HUD could identify vehicles occupied by "Tweeters" so I can be sure to avoid them?
We're making self-driving cars... there are countless ways to apply that same technology to human-driven cars that would make the roads safer for everyone. If the best they can come up with is song selection and social media: I think their priorities are a bit misaligned.
[+] [-] CamperBob2|11 years ago|reply
How about "No?" Is "No" supported?
[+] [-] mikeash|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] servowire|11 years ago|reply
Even more, mounting "something" to the front window is illegal in a lot of places in the world [1]. At least Netherlands and U.S. In The Netherlands operating a phone while driving (voice operated carkit exempt) gives you a ~$250 fine.
Furthermore, obstructing part of your window is dangerous. You could miss something. And it's distracting (our eyes focus on motion).
What a idiotic idea.
[1]http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34521
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] yitchelle|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] NoMoreNicksLeft|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stuaxo|11 years ago|reply
HUDs are a good idea, but it should be showing info about driving.
[+] [-] gr3yh47|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 100k|11 years ago|reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_and_driving_safet...
[+] [-] kaoD|11 years ago|reply
Music is pretty distracting to some people. Car stereos should definitely be banned too.
To be fair, both having a conversation and listening to music keep me alert when driving. Yes, it might also produce cognitive overload, but in my case it's definitely better than cognitive underload (boredom).
You know what's by far the most distracting thing to me while driving? Constantly checking my speedometer. In some areas I do it constantly, out of fear of getting a speeding ticket. I don't even want to speed!
[+] [-] yafujifide|11 years ago|reply
So advertisements beside roads should be banned?
[+] [-] thecosas|11 years ago|reply
Take your pick.
[+] [-] scelerat|11 years ago|reply
You're not supposed to talk to bus drivers without good reason, and this is partially why.
[+] [-] chromelyke|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] xutopia|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] whiterabbit|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gdilla|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tomphoolery|11 years ago|reply
This whole "distracted driving" thing is horseshit. If the road is your PRIMARY focus than you can do all of the things I just mentioned and not die. It's really that easy.
[+] [-] dchuk|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Game_Ender|11 years ago|reply
[0] - http://www.ibtimes.com/texting-drivers-take-eyes-road-5-seco...
[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss021L0hWU4
[+] [-] hartator|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vnchr|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] josephwegner|11 years ago|reply
Your hero image with an example of a HUD should probably not be a prompt to watch a video. That's just about the most dangerous thing that a HUD could ask you to do.
[+] [-] mikek|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] codysan|11 years ago|reply
Though I guess you can say that if you saw it that way, it is still reason to change that, to avoid confusion.
[+] [-] declan|11 years ago|reply
Um, when I'm flying a plane, I don't:
- have other 4,000-lb planes 3' away that I could collide with after a moment's distraction
- compose tweets by speaking aloud while staring at a screen, and then when the voice recognition system doesn't work properly, have to retry multiple times while staring at the screen
- talk on the phone to my mother
- play music while navigating through crowded airspace (some pilots do on longer cross-country trips, of course)
- need to have my airspeed projected in front of me (maybe on takeoff it would be useful)
- have apps pop up notifications directly in my field of vision when I'm trying to focus on one of those 4,000-lb objects that's about to collide with me
- have some of those other 4,000-lb objects near me controlled by people who are composing tweets, etc. rather than focusing on the task of flying
What I do want to be doing is scanning the airspace around me for other planes, scanning my instruments to make sure all is well, etc...
Navdy seems like a good HUD implementation from a technological standpoint, and unlike other folks here I don't think it should be banned. But assuring everyone it's safe because "pilots use it" seems like a statement made without, well, talking to pilots first.
[+] [-] nzealand|11 years ago|reply
They hold the phones down low, to avoid tickets.
I feel Navdy is an improvement on those situations, but I still don't like where things are headed.
[+] [-] caio1982|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] drbawb|11 years ago|reply
Thanks for the laugh :-)!
This was my first thought as well. I saw a Mercedes the other day with the "lane change assist."
Rather hilariously: I was behind the Mercedes at a right turn, and you could see the "danger" light in her mirror indicating that my little sedan was in the blindspot of her enormous GLK.
(Ironically the tech itself was a distraction _to me_ because I was trying to figure out where the sensor package was, and how sensitive the instrumentation was. I had never seen it that closely before -- perhaps I should go to a Mercedes dealership.)
I want that sort of tech on every glass surface of the car. Anywhere I can see a vehicle: I should be able to see "potential hazard information."
[+] [-] rbinv|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mattholtom|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Yaggo|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] gcb0|11 years ago|reply
i know i will only be able to control minimal navigation and calls options.
no other app will ever play along. e.g. you skype calls will either block everything or only show up on your phone screen... to the point integration is so bad you still have your phone on the holder next to that screen and in the end you are using your phone directly more than that projector.
[+] [-] drbawb|11 years ago|reply
Why can't I just have a list of "high priority apps" and "low priority apps", or even just "highest priority" and "everything else."
It's not something an app can solve; but I personally spend a long time trying to ensure that my phone is safe to use as a navigational aid. Currently this usually includes voiding my warranty (to root, jailbreak, etc.) so that I can bypass the stock dialer. -- That just feels _wrong_ to me. I should not be voiding my warranty to make a device safer.
[+] [-] buro9|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] uptown|11 years ago|reply
California
Video Screen Restriction Hands-free Cell Phone Use Only Ban on Texting While Driving Restrictions on Cell Phone Use for Novice Drivers and School Bus Drivers
Law: Prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle if a video monitor, or a video screen or any other similar device that displays a video signal is operating and is located forward of the driver's seat or is visible to the driver. Provides exceptions for emergency equipment. Statute: California Vehicle Code §2890 (West 2004) Penalties: No Penalty Specified.
Law: Prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Allows exceptions in emergency situations. Statute: California Vehicle Code §12810.3 and §23123 Penalties: $20 for first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense.
Law: A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send or read a text-based communication Statute: California Vehicle Code 23123 (2009) Penalties: Infraction - $20 first offense, $50 for subsequent.
Law: School and transit bus drivers and drivers younger than 18 will be banned for all cell phone use while driving (regardless of hands-freeheadset). Statute: 2007 California Statutes, Chap. 214 Penalties: $20 for first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense.
http://www.ce.org/Consumer-Info/Car-Electronics/Got-It/State...
[+] [-] weavie|11 years ago|reply
Really? So are Sat Navs banned in California?
[+] [-] ricardobeat|11 years ago|reply
This is just a gimmick. I would never, ever want it to display tweets or whatever distracting content, just because you can still see the road doesn't mean it won't take away your attention. Until we have self-driving cars there is no technology that will magically make it possible to multitask while driving...
[+] [-] vive1|11 years ago|reply
Few challenging tasks ahead for Navdy team like:
1. I get tonnes of marketing SMS, It should recognize which SMS should be delivered to HUD might depend the ratio of conversation I make with the sender and decide based on that? (Yeah I live in other side of the planet)
2. I might not need integration with Twitter and other social media accounts they are definitely not meant to get my focus while driving
3. As per other HN commenter, it would be awesome if it can recognize the signals or detect objects ahead of some 10m and warn me and get me a path way to ride? determine the pathway depending on the car dimensions ? (Yes, I live in India and commuting here in city is really makes you very skillful in driving :), something like in Captain America 2 film wind sheild? Yeah I know easier said than done )
4. May be get them the HUD view of rear and help me to drive reverse without need to turn around ? (Asking for too much?)
But definitely worth an attempt.
[+] [-] jcdavis|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pnathan|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] daniel_reetz|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cordite|11 years ago|reply
If it detected you were at a red light, maybe it might be appropriate to display such, but please, not while a kid might be running in front of you, ignorant of your presence.
[+] [-] obisw4n|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] LemonPieDeluxe|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tashoecraft|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] underwater|11 years ago|reply
No, some people do. It's illegal and I'm all for increasing policing and penalties to stop them.