It’s not just for show! Pioneer Electronics will deliver a car laser RGB heads up display in 2012 designed for aftermarket retail sales. It will project information from a smartphone on the car’s windshield in full color.
The driver sees a hologram-like image of the info shown on his smartphone such as who’s calling when a call comes in. In fact you could see video of the caller in a video chat with a hologram image of that person floating before you. Imagine mom’s image looming before you as you drive.
Pioneer isn’t talking pricing or explaining the form factor or electronics behind the device, yet. But there’s a date of next year and it will launch in the aftermarket first, followed by OEM implementation in new cars.
Visteon is also showing at CES a heads up display for smartphone information. The device is actually a rear view mirror that has a built in cradle for your iPhone. The phone’s screen info is then projected on the windshield. You get the same hologram effect. Visteon is working with 3M, which is producing the windshield film to permit the heads up display. It’s just a concept, but we’re seeing a pattern here.
Audi also showed during a CES keynote, a concept heads up display projecting augmented reality navigation as you drive.
Pioneer’s Ted Cardenas said heads up displays have been around for 40 years in aviation but new technology allows color images.
cool