Automotive technology startup company Navdy is looking to make driving more high-tech and safer with a portable heads-up display.
The HUD of the Navdy displays several different kinds of information that drivers may need, allowing them to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.
It is important that drivers do not use their phones while behind the wheel, which is an act that has actually been made illegal within most states. However, as the technology behind smartphones continues to develop, people have grown more dependent on their smartphones for things such as music and navigation, which is hard for drivers to ignore.
This is the dilemma that the Navdy aims to solve. Featuring a 5.1-inch curved transparent screen with a high-intensity projector, the device connects with any iPhone or Android-powered smartphone. The Navdy displays all the information that the driver needs, and since it is mounted right on the dashboard, the driver is able to see everything without being distracted from what is on the road ahead of him.
Some of the capabilities of the device include reading received text messages, showing driving directions from Google Maps and displaying the title of the song that your smartphone is playing.
The Navdy also has added functionality with vehicles that have OBD-II ports. The device can connect to these ports so that it can display vehicle information such as performance, fuel economy and possible problems.
The Navdy's screen can be split to be able to use multiple features at once. In addition, the device is also able to understand gestures and voice-activated commands so that the driver's hands are on the wheel and shifter of the vehicle at all times. For example, a swipe to the left is used to answer a call, while a swipe to the right removes an unimportant notification from the display.
The creators of the Navdy are looking to raise funds of $60,000 so that the device can go into production through a 30-day crowdfunding campaign. From today until September, customers may pre-order the device through the company's website for only $299, which is a 40 percent discount compared to the planned retail price of the Navdy of $499.
According to the website, the device will begin to ship out early next year. The device will only extend the apps that are located within the user's smartphone, meaning that it will not be charging any additional subscription fees.
