BMW Motorrad has introduced demo of a motor cycle helmet with a glass-like heads-up display in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), 2016 held in Las Vegas. The helmet displays information like speed limits, directions and incoming phone calls through the field of view. BMW has turned the concept into a reality through displaying a wearable demo.
BMW has been inspired apparently with the Google video published four years back previewing an augmented reality headset. The video has displayed all kinds of useful information in the corner of vision on directing the paths to a predefined destination.
The showcased heads-up display is powered by two batteries at the rear of the helmet. The BMW head-up display projects information without obstructing the rider's field of view. The information projects directly into the rider's field of view, reports Gizmag.
Wearing the helmet, a glowing green box appears in the corner of the vision which displays increasing speed on the left and gear position on the right. The display includes a single color, green. It also offers pertinent information like road safety updates, maps and so on, reports The Verge.
An action camera located inside the helmet is capable of recording video footage of the journey. A second camera orienting towards the rear may perform the function of a 'digital rear view mirror'. This technology also offers visualization of locations other riders in a motor cycle group, describes a press release furnished in the official website of BMW Motorrad.
The augmented reality helmet is connected to an integrated mini-computer and loudspeakers. It is controlled from the left-hand handlebar fittings with the BMW Motorrad multi-controller. The rider is capable of comfortably selecting the required information. The operating time of the two replaceable system batteries is around five hours.
The German automaker desires to develop the innovative technology to series-production level within the next few years. Thus the automobile pioneer is going to add a further safety feature to its wide range of rider equipments.
Though the display has already demoed fairly well, but the ability of the helmet to connect to the bike and phone still remain incomplete. It requires further developments in this arena and this fact has probably led BMW to showcase a scripted, non-interactive demo. If BMW can get it all working, this helmet may appear as one of the first augmented reality headsets worth wearing.
BMW Motorrad, the German automobile conglomerate, has displayed a scripted and non-interactive video of an intelligent helmet. The recently concluded CES 2016 has witnessed the smart helmet apparently developed from the Google displayed video on augmented reality headset. If BMW succeeds to turn the dream into reality, it will appear as the introducer of smart wearable headsets.
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