Is Redmond engineering a heads up display for automobiles?

They’ve been in airplane cockpits, feeding airspeed and other data directly to pilots since the early 70s. The 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme became the first production car with one, but sadly, the innovation never really caught on until now … maybe.

According to patent filings, Microsoft is developing what it calls an “adaptive heads-up user interface for automobiles.” And, in addition to supplying a driver with speed, rpm, GPS and other vehicle information directly onto the windshield, Microsoft wants to also incorporate data from other devices and still keep a driver’s eyes where they belong while still managing to conduct other business as well. So, in the future, we may be able to have true hands free operation of cellphones PDAs laptops, and even media devices all while driving from point A to point B.

Redmond is also planning to incorporate “ad” space in the interface, which will surely kill the innovation altogether.

Still, widespread use of heads up displays in automobiles is something that’s been long overdue.

Source: Engadget

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5 Comments on “Is Redmond engineering a heads up display for automobiles?”

Omaha Says:

*Redmond is also planning to incorporate “ad” space in the interface, which will surely kill the innovation altogether.*

Unf%cking believable. Is nothing sacred these days? Must we plaster everything with advertisements? The only thing Ads on a HUD will kill is the driver in the other car, when you run into them.

Neagle Says:

“Ad” space huh? Whatever car this is in sure would not be an lower end model so “ad” space would kill it for me.

Alan Campbell Says:

New BMW’s have HUD’s built in as an option to show all that information and also some SAAB cars come built in with almost total hands free, all you need to do is tap one button on the steering wheel to activate voice control ad then you can adjust the radio and make telephone calls by only saying: Telephone, Call, and then read any phone number to it. It works flawlessly 95% of the time too which is great!

Gallery of Gadgets up to 08-25-2007 » Coolest Gadgets Says:

[...] « Is Redmond engineering a heads up display for automobiles? [...]

Joe Says:

The higher end Pontiac Grand Prix models have had a HUD option for the last few years as well. I believe there’s also a “stealth mode” that would activate the HUD and turn out all of the other interior lights.

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