Mobile computing devices are wonderful for bringing the world of information to our fingertips anywhere we go. Hurtling down the highway in one ton vehicles while trying to access our maps or find directions is not the safest way to drive.
This video shows an augmented reality street view using a Windows 7 notebook, Royaltek GPS, webcam, and an arduino board with 2-axis compass module.
The final intent of this garage-made system is unknown, but it certainly opens up possibilities for augmented reality car systems. Projection units could easily put these views onto the windshield and voice-command for GPS to keep it hands free is nothing new.
Speaking of GPS, did you know that you can get a TomTom GPS system with Snoop Dogg’s voice on it? Here’s the video to prove it.
How hard would it be for an AR GPS maker to have dual cams mounted on the dashboard with a projector blasting the screen information on your windshield? The car dimensions are fixed and the GPS is known, add in some object recognition for the occasional readjustment of geospatial location, and an AR car system could draw yellow lines on the road to follow and highlight points of interest along the way.
The technology exists and only needs someone to put the pieces together. I wouldn’t be suprised to learn a nimble startup had already started creating one. And even if such a project was started today, one could be on the market by late this year or next.
