- Eric Gwon
Car Windshield Computer
The Future is near. Scientists and engineers are working on car windshield computers that make cars look like spaceships, and it will be released in a couple of years. So what exactly are car windshield computers? It is the use of the front windshield glass as a screen to provide a “Heads-up display”, through which the driver and front-seat passenger of a car can easily access information and instrument control without taking their eyes off the road.
Automakers including General Motors and Daimler are working on specially designed windshields that they hope will one day share with drivers crucial information about their surroundings, helping to improve safety, efficiency, and other technologies such as calling people, map, a website search, videos, TVs, and more. Using a technology known as augmented reality, which overlays real-world images with digital ones, these windshields could display driving directions, text messages, or impending hazards, all without requiring drivers to take their eyes off the road. What exactly would they be used for? According to Peo, a HUD engineer, “[this technology] can let passers-by know of nearby attractions, give you a lot of information. It’s information. It’s location-based of course. The care knows where it’s at, so it can promote information that is related and relevant to the location” (The Drive 5).
Safety, aesthetics, and visibility continue to drive the improvement of windshield performance. However, many new technologies are now being experimented with and integrated into the windshield. In addition to touch screens and switchable glass, the implementation of heads up displays are being developed for the windshield, so one day, drivers will never have an excuse to take their eyes off the road.
What are the benefits of having a heads-up display? A heads-up display is safe, smart, and revolutionizing. With the number of distractions on the road, utilizing this form of augmented reality to have speed and approaching turns the display on your windshield helps maintain your focus. Any time you take your eyes off the road, no matter how brief, increases your chances of an accident. However, there are certain things you should monitor when driving like your speed and how hard you are pushing the engine. That's the impact of a heads-up display on your car windshield.