Comments on: Is the Sportiiiis heads-up display the future of cycling electronics?

By: Nick F

Nick F — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:39:47 +0000

There’s an App for that.

By: stefanr

stefanr — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:25:38 +0000

We have toyed around with prototypes in this section a few years ago. The capabilities are seamingly endless, given the fact that a real HUD could display way more context driven and rich information than a classical cyclo-computer. And once you start interconnecting the devices, you will generate every cyclists dream, be it racing against each other or jointly tagging roads. What is even more fascinating is how this is part of a greater scheme: this will introduce Augmented Reality to a broader audience and pave the way towards everyday use. After all, cyclists are being paid for looking a little weird. As for safety: it is probably way more dangerous to turn your head around on an aero-bar, than getting a live feed from a camera mounted backwards. Motor cyclists often end up in accidents when looking away from the road. I can’t wait to use one of these once they are fully developed …

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:10:55 +0000

All very fascinating, but: Somehow, the quiet enjoyment of cycling, as in going from ‘A’ to ‘B’ is forgotten, as is the smell of the flowers on a Summer afternoon, or the buzz of the bees and the sound of birdsong out in the country.

Yes navigation of an unfamiliar route is often useful, but most of this other stuff is pure distraction from what is, or should be pure enjoyment of being out and about.

There is also the very real environmental impact of all this stuff.

By: Mtbikedroid

Mtbikedroid — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:12:17 +0000

I think the audible part is great, the led strip not so much, it would be better if the led strip would be molded into the glass frame .. little nervous of crashing with that pointy led think below my eye.

By: Androo

Androo — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:04:14 +0000

Huh, I took it the complete opposite way. I think he was conjecturing of all the ways that it such a technology could be implemented, and the concluding comment was sort of an “of course it could be useful! Where’s your imagination?!” kind of thing.

But maybe I was the one misinterpreting it. I like my my way of looking at it better.

By: Steve A

Steve A — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:53:43 +0000

Seems to me that a consideration is the $$ value that gets locked with the bike versus lugged in at the destination, along with any unplug time. At least a basic cycling computer gets left with the bike.

By: bryan willman

bryan willman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:42:47 +0000

fairly similar things have been used on aircraft and race cars for some time.
having the apparent distance be far enough to not cause eye strain is in issue
at least in race cars these things disappear into the background of your awareness really quickly, but that is a case where the person has a lot of practice/skill
we may find that new riders should not use such things, and that people should get used to them before riding in traffic, but once past those thresholds they are likely quite safe.
i think to be really useful you will need mors than a row of lights
a “smartphone” – which might or might not have phone service – would provide a really high function computer/display using pretty standard and cheap hardware – though of course that can at least in theory be distracting, just like an HRM or GPS might be today

By: Mick

Mick — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:25:03 +0000

@Ross, that was a really annoying way of saying the technology is of no interest for yourself. On a forum like this, I’m not even sure whether you caring for this product is even relevant to the conversation. I’d much prefer to read constructive dialogue, good & bad. I appreciate the development of any technology, and to see technology trickle down & evolve into other aspects of life is interesting & exciting. Certainly this is an example of a technology which is at it’s very infancy (specifically in this particular application … trying to balance cost & function)…thus, without a doubt, it will not appeal to many at this juncture, but as been stated on this site numerous times…you need to start somewhere. In the mean time, I’m interested in the concept & product…not derailing, pompous comments that serve no purpose

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:23:32 +0000

Great, now cyclists will be just as distracted as pedestrians and drivers with their “smartphones.”

100% attention, 100% of the time.

By: BruceG

BruceG — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:23:41 +0000

Audible cues? at 35-40kph I can only hear wind and trucks. And there’s no way I’d wear headphones when on the road, though some gumbies do.

HUD? hmmmm. don’t think it is a good idea. The ciliary muscle that controls accommodation of the eye’s lens is not under conscious control like most skeletal muscles. It is prone to fatiguing more so. To be changing focus between road and HUD will be tolerated poorly by a significant % of the population, especially middle aged riders.