We said we'd keep you posted, and we meant it. Sister site Engadget just had a brief fling with the GlobalTop HUD GPS device at CeBIT. Unfortunately for them, the demo didn't happen in a car, but rather on the show floor. They said the heads-up display was quite visible on the tinted portion of the demonstration screen, but when they moved it to the more windshield-like clear portion to the side, it all but disappeared. In all fairness, it was a prototype, but we join Thomas Ricker in our skepticism when the device is set to drop next month in Europe for about $100.
We talked about this affordable Bluetooth/GPS system a little while ago and liked the sound of it. The device has a lot of promise because it theoretically projects your speed and other vital info onto your windshield so you can focus your eyes on the road instead of the gauge cluster. Heads-Up Displays (HUD) have been around for eons, mostly used in aircraft, and have proven very effective. Being able to have important information in your field of vision is a great step up in terms of safety, but only if it doesn't distract the driver, and more importantly, only if it's visible. Again, we'll keep you posted. But like Engadget said, perhaps it's best to wait for a full review or an in-car demo of your own, before laying out your hard-earned cash on this one.
[Source: Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kwyjibo @ Mar 20th 2007 7:48PM
I have an easier solution...just listen to the motor with your ears and slow down when other cars go whizzing by...
I personally never look at my gauge cluster while driving.
Rob @ Mar 20th 2007 10:38PM
I really don't get why you guys are reporting this thing, aftermarket HUDs have been available in the sport compact scene for quite a few years. It's really nothing new, whatsoever. Also, they usually include a little 'square' of reflective, but still transparent material that you adhere to your windshield to make it really visible. The aftermarket ones can show speed, rpms, and other information. Again, this is NOTHING NEW. Quit reporting about it please.
Rob @ Mar 20th 2007 10:44PM
Here's one:
http://www.defi-shop.com/product/concept/concept_top.html
There are a few others too.
rlopees @ Mar 21st 2007 12:22AM
Other systems are less practical tha this. The GlobalTop unit is self-ontained. Rather than having to wire it into your vehicle's electrical system, it uses GPS to display vehicle speed, direction and with the help of Blutooth, can display other information depending on the car's equipment. And it only costs about $100.
Rick Lyon @ Mar 21st 2007 10:15AM
Hideous, distracting, cheap looking Radio Shack hack.
Phred @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:13AM
The factory version in the Corvette projects onto an otherwise transparent layer sandwiched into the windshield glass. Presumably the systems from BMW, Lexus, Citroën, and Nissan work similarly.
If they could have gotten the image to reflect properly off of regular windshield glass, they probably wouldn't have bothered making special glass.