挡风玻璃显示器：让你的汽车秒变战斗机

    数十年来，汽车厂商一直在研究挡风玻璃显示器，这主要是受到战斗机所使用的视觉投射技术的启发，这种技术使飞行员可以一边盯着天空，一边查看速度和方向等关键数据。

    如今，挡风玻璃显示器已经被越来越多地应用在凯迪拉克、梅塞德斯奔驰和宝马等高端汽车品牌上。驾驶员无需低头看速度表，一个悬浮在视线前方的全息显示窗口就可以直接显示当前的车速。

    人们对驾驶分心问题的愈发重视，也为一家名叫Navdy的公司提供了商机，这家公司的挡风玻璃显示器产品很快就要上市了。这款设备安装在汽车的仪表盘上，可以管理短信、消息、来电和其它智能手机功能，使驾驶员的双眼始终盯着路面。Navdy公司的设备可以无线连接到用户的手机上，与传统的中控台显示屏和那种安装在方向盘上方的显示屏相比，它拥有独特的优势，因为传统的显示屏总是有让人分心的可能。

    今年10月初，据科技媒体TechCrunch报道，旧金山的Navdy公司已经从消费者那里获得了价值240万美元的设备订单，用来测试初步需求。该设备的单个售价为299美元，因此这笔订单也就意味着8000台设备。该公司表示，该设备的售价将上调至499美元。该公司官网称，这款设备将于“2015年年初”开始出货。

    挡风玻璃显示器最重要的功能是显示屏似乎是悬浮在前方的。另外Navdy公司还增加了一项功能，使驾驶员通过一个“手势”，就可以回复电话或短信，而无需按键或滑动触屏。该公司还表示，该设备也将兼容苹果的Siri功能。

    Navdy的联合创始人兼CEO道格•辛普森对TechCrunch表示，该公司在收到消费者的订单前，已经筹集到650万美元的种子资本。

    他表示：“很多反馈都集中在人们想在该设备上看到哪些应用，以及他们喜欢哪些导航应用。比如在欧洲，添加具有离线地图功能的导航应用是非常重要的，因为它可以避免跨国出行的漫游费。另外，我们也听到一些人说，他们希望这款设备能整合人们在车里做的所有事情。”

    信息娱乐功能和数码创新已经迅速成为汽车业的核心卖点之一。特别是很多年轻消费者往往更著重汽车的通讯和音乐功能，而不是车身大小、动力或燃油经济性这些传统卖点。那些难以推出消费者觉得满意和好用的信息娱乐系统的汽车制造商，往往获得第三方质量评价机构的差评。

    本月初，福特公司宣布将更换软件开发商，并将推出一款名叫Sync 3的新型信息娱乐系统。原始版本的Sync系统推出后恶评如潮，同时也受到第三方评估机构的蔑视。一位福特的发言人表示，福特目前还未在旗下任何车型上提供挡风玻璃显示器系统。

    但随着消费者开始青睐Navdy的产品，福特和其他汽车厂商无疑会紧密关注这一动态。一旦它成为有车一族广泛使用的扩展设备，这项技术就将很快出现在更多车型上，甚至有望成为一种标配。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎

    Automakers have tinkered with heads-up displays (HUDs) for decades, intrigued by the visual projection technology used in fighter jets that allows pilots to track vital data, such as speed and direction, while keeping eyes on the sky.

    HUDs increasingly are found in premium vehicle models such as those made by Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. No need for a driver to look down at the speedometer when a floating hologram in front of her eyes tells how fast the car is going.

    The rising alarm over distracted driving opened the door for a startup, Navdy, which is about to ship its after-market HUD to customers. The device sits on the dashboard and manages texts, messages, calls and other cellphone traffic while the driver keeps looking at the road. Navdy’s hardware, which links wirelessly to a cellphone, seems to offer distinct advantages over screens in mid-dashboard or above the steering column – which distract attention from the road.

    In early October, TechCrunch reported that San Francisco-based Navdy had taken “pre-orders” for $2.4 million worth of devices from consumers to test initial demand, implying about 8,000 orders at the published price of $299. The company says the device’s price will rise to $499. Shipments begin “in early 2015,” according to the company’s website.

    HUD’s most important feature is that the display appears to float on the horizon. To this, Navdy adds the ability for driver to control reply and other responses to texts and calls with a “gesture” of the hand, instead of touching a screen or turning a dial. Voice controls such as Apple’s Siri also will be compatible, the company says.

    Navdy’s co-founder and chief executive Doug Simpson told TechCrunch the company had raised $6.5 million of seed capital prior to receiving consumer orders.

    “A lot of [the feedback] has been around what applications people want to see on the device, what navigation apps they prefer,” he said. “So in Europe, for example, adding navigation that has offline maps for avoiding roaming fees as people travel from country-to-country is important. Also, we’re hearing that people really want this device to be the center of everything they do in the car.”

    Infotainment features and digital innovations have rapidly become key selling points for vehicles, especially among younger consumers who often care more about how they’ll communicate and listen to music while driving than the size of the engine or the fuel efficiency rating. Automakers that have struggled to offer infotainment systems which consumers find easy and pleasant to use have watched third-party quality ratings suffer.

    Earlier this month, Ford Motor Co. F 0.45% announced it was switching software developers and introducing Sync 3, a new infotainment system. Its original Sync system was widely criticized and initially received poor ratings. A Ford spokesman said the company currently doesn’t offer its own HUD system on any of its models.

    But Ford and other automakers no doubt will keep a close eye on consumer uptake of Navdy’s product. In the event that it becomes a popular add-on for drivers, the technology soon could be available as an option or come standard on more new vehicles.