Google Glass for Motorcycles

Google Glass for Motorcycles Are these forthcoming “digital glasses” the ultimate navigation and heads-up display for motorcycle riders or just another threat to traffic safety?

Google Glass

“Google Glass” heads-up-display glasses have hit the tech world with a bang. A promotional video shows lots of different applications for these “wearable computers,” from enhanced reality to video recording, picture taking and more. Now, everyone is thinking about practical applications. As motorcyclists, we were immediately concerned about an increase in distracted driving, already a huge threat to traffic safety. At the same time, we also wonder what it would be like to use Google Glass while riding.

Naturally, the most obvious application would be heads-up mapping. Imagine seeing your next turn without having to look away from the road, or knowing where traffic congestion is building and choosing a faster, safer route.

Beyond basic navigation, there is much more that could be done. Many already use helmet cameras to record and share their rides, but what if those cameras could be activated by voice? You could begin filming without taking your hands off the handlebars, capture amazing scenery as you ride down your favorite road or snap a picture of a goofy kid in a nearby car as you pass by him. You could also get environmental information about your surroundings, or obtain history on a building or park you just passed.

Google Glass Example

With GPS at work, you can assume heads-up speed and weather information would also be available. Eventually, you might even be able to customize your bike and ditch its physical gauges, as road speed, engine rpm and gear choice could be embedded in your heads-up display. Before you leave for the racetrack, you could upload a map of the circuit so you’re already familiar with the turns, or use the glasses to see your lap time right in front of your face.

Google Glass probably won’t be available until the middle of 2014. There is certainly some promise to the technology, but these new displays might also present significant problems. Having too much information in front of you while riding could be dangerous, and there is no doubt distracted driving in cars is already a huge issue. Still, it sure is fun to imagine the possibilities by integrating this technology into the faceshields of our helmets.

For a more in-depth look at this technology, check out the articles from our friends at Popsci.

Google Glass Site: http://www.google.com/glass/start/

http://profiles.google.com/biggsquidd Archie Dux

I hope whoever invented those gets mowed down by a driver wearing them.

Dustin Edwards

Hey look, it’s an asshat on the internet. Let’s all pay attention to him!

jfc1

…you first…

http://www.facebook.com/markgardiner Mark Gardiner

I’m down with the idea of heads-up display for motorcyclists — and car drivers for that matter. Such displays make it easier to see information we’re already looking for, on the dashboard. Most importantly, the rider, driver, pilot using these displays ignores the information when his/her concentration is required for machine control. The heads-up display is not distracting because it’s essentially passive. The uses being proposed for these glasses are active. Users will be trying to see what’s being framed in that video or pic they’re shooting; then a text message or FB update will pop open… just as that farmer is backing out of his driveway into your path. Heads-up display=good for bikers. Google glasses < good.

jfc1

sounds like a whole lot of wishing to me.

Let’s think about the odds that the exact opposite will happen.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1538390901 Jim Lagnese

If anyone does it, BMW will.

http://www.facebook.com/trey.dear Trey Dear

In general I like the idea. There are a lot of practical applications for it, but I think for safety reasons the best solution would be to have it built into a helmet, and the manufacturer would need to set limits on what sort of interactivity there is beyond a certain point. The idea of standing at a stop light, taking a picture of something you see, getting a new route and weather conditions all on a hud is awesome, I just don’t want the guy in front of me to be joining a google hangout at 85mph
Dustin Edwards

This is the reason I wanted Google Glass. I don’t really care about anything else except GPS in a heads up display. I have to travel a lot to places I have no idea where they are for my job. If I’m on my motorcycle it’s difficult and a GPS system takes my eyes off the road, so Google Glass would be perfect for me.

jfc1

…it *would* be perfect, if you don’t get led astray by the nav system.
The first time I read about this idea I thought of all the people who were led off cliffs by their GPS system. There was a woman who was led out of Paris into Belgium just a couple of weeks ago when she was just trying to get to Charles de Galle, and I’m sure that most of these don’t make the news.

johnny ro

I realize this article is about motorcycle riders but the glasses will sell to car drivers. I am opposed solely on the grounds that the customer base consists of bad , inattentive drivers. Having said that its probably unstoppable, like cell phones and text messaging while driving. I do find the technology interesting, although the idea of looking at a route that climbs a cliff wall reminds me of how computers can go so wrong sometimes.
Alpha

“Imagine seeing your next turn without having to look away from the road”

I’m not sure what the benefit is here, or perhaps I’m not understanding the context. You need to turn your head to where you’re going. (Keith Code calls it Survival Reaction #6.) Even if you are so good that you can steer where you aren’t looking, why would you want to? The computer can’t tell you if something is in the road, outside of your field of vision.
david lum

What? A motor on a bicycle? People have got to be crazy to do that! Let’s keep the good old days, no motors, and get exercise!
Mad Jock

A head up display in aircraft has been shown to help the pilot, especially fighter pilots, in high stress/ high threat situations, so I don’t agree with those comments that suggest otherwise. However, fighter pilots are highly trained individuals, and cannot be compared with the average driver or biker.
That being said, from a purely SatNav point of view at least, it could lead to some serious disorientation. Most, if not all SatNav systems on the market today are aligned with the vehicle’s direction of travel. Unless the GPS itself is attached to the glasses, or the wearer’s head, what you will see through the lenses as you turn your head will not change the image on the screen.
Of more use would be a more traditional HUD projected on to a tourers windshield, so yes, it’s likely that BMW will be the first with that. BMW already have such a system in the 6 series coupe.
The advantage of any kind of heads up display, whether for cars or bikes, is eye relief. The image is focussed at infinity, as are your eyes when you are driving and looking at the road ahead. If you constantly have to look at your dash, your eyes are having to change focus, and do this too often and your eyes get tired. A HUD will prevent that kind of eye strain, or at least minimise it.