How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
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From: USA
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Originally Posted by Meccadeth
Transparent TFT and liquid crystal matrix screens are getting cheaper and better....think that'll eventually replace the 'ghetto' way of doing it now? (I say ghetto because it just seems kind of archaic to have a projector in the dash reflecting an image off the windshield...although it is very cool, it just seems like there could be a better way of doing it).
The HUD is holographic....the images almost float out in front of the hoood...you really don't see them as reflected.
I don't think an LCD could do this without blocking the windshild. If there was a way...I am sure it would have shown up on a fighter jet by now...since that is where the technology comes from.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
My buddy had a 1990 Turbo Grand Prix that had the HUD, I would bet that was the first time it was used. What other cars have had the HUD besides the Grand Prix and Corvette, did any Cadillacs come with one?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Originally Posted by shotgun
You're missing the whole point of a hud... its so you don't have to take your eyes off the road. Looking down in the middle of the car to check some cartoon gauges doesn't sound good to me.
You misunderstood what I was talking about. Its an actual image that can be interfaced on the windshield so that you can see it just like HUD. Actually it IS HUD, but just without the projector thing in the dash and all that other stuff. If you take the little screen out of a calculator sometime you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Its a transparent film that goes in between two thing sheets of clear plastic/glass. It would save a lot of space...but I have no clue what it costs to make that....
Originally Posted by formula79
The HUD is holographic....the images almost float out in front of the hoood...you really don't see them as reflected.
I don't think an LCD could do this without blocking the windshild. If there was a way...I am sure it would have shown up on a fighter jet by now...since that is where the technology comes from.
I don't think an LCD could do this without blocking the windshild. If there was a way...I am sure it would have shown up on a fighter jet by now...since that is where the technology comes from.
Last edited by Meccadeth; Jul 22, 2004 at 11:40 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 70
From: Orlando, Florida
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Yeah... my dad's 95 Bonneville SSEI has one. I really enjoyed driving with it. It let me drive like more of a jerk while keeping my eyes on the road! 
While we're on neat tech...
I'd like my car to have reinflatble tires and an onboard computer that talks to me, all Knight Rider-ish and stuff.
While we're on neat tech...
I'd like my car to have reinflatble tires and an onboard computer that talks to me, all Knight Rider-ish and stuff.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Ontario
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Originally Posted by Meccadeth
I can't even remember what exactly the name is of what I'm talking about...I seen it on Discovery channel like last year I think. They were watching TV on this window type thing, and it was transparent. You could see what was behind the screen almost perfectly, but you could also see what was on the screen almost perfectly also. I think Redman or some other rapper also has it on his Escalade in his side view mirror (it was on MTV Cribs). Its really neat, but, probably expensive right now.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Jersey Shore
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Originally Posted by morb|d
i agree. i'd also like radar and a set of stinger missiles standard.
I have never driven in a car with HUD, so I dont know the advantages of it. Sounds like a good deal, but I never had a problem with looking down at the guages. I guess its like auto-lights. Now that I have them, I want to know why all cars dont.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 207
From: Merrillville, IN
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Don't Caddillac DTS's have some sort of night vision deal? That always sounded really neat but I don't think I'm allowed in Caddy dealers, at least till I make about 5 times what I do
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Joined: Jun 2000
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From: South Bend , IN
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
I have HUD in my 97 Bonnie SSE and love it , even though its the old school type that pontiac debuted in 88 on the GP SE's . Ive never seen a hud display in the new GP's or vette , but sounds like its been refined a little . It would be awesome to have in the new camaro if it were configurable like in the new corvette .
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,446
From: Yelm, Wa USA
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
Originally Posted by Red Planet
No doubt about it....in my opinion, once you have it, you never want another car without it.......
Sort of like where the shifter is All the Auto shifts in all the cars is on the floor & our truck is on the colum. Make up our minds PLEASE. Just shove it on the floor.
lol
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Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,368
From: OR
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
For cars like the Vette that have HUD.. Does it accurate show RPM's? Like, in the Camaro, we all know our tach's are a little lagged, .. are the vette's Hud's like that? (actually, are the vettes tach's lagged like the Camaro's?)
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,139
From: Commerce, mi, USA
Re: How come heads up displays are not in more cars?
I think you're missing the gist of Formula's point. The holographic image appears to be floating about 10 feet out in front of the car, thus your eyes don't have to refocus from 50 yards down to 3 feet in order to check the gauges. It's much quicker to take a quick look than if you had to focus on a spot on your windshield.
I really like the HUD on my CompG Prix. There's quite a bit of info shown, from speed to temperature, compass heading and turn signal indicators to upshift light, XM channel titles and other stuff. Very handy.
I believe it's just a matter of time until this becomes much more commonplace. Most features depending heavily on modern electronics keep dropping in cost over time until they become a mainstream option.
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