First look: SenseHUD turns your iPhone into a portable heads-up display
Victor Marks
Unveiled at CES, SenseHUD is portable device that promises to transform your smartphone into an automotive heads-up display, offering an aftermarket alternative to expensive preinstalled car navigation systems.
Touted as a safe alternative to in-car cellphone mounting systems, SenseDriver Technologies' SenseHUD uses a smartphone and specialized app to present calls, directions, speed and other information on a transparent dashboard-mounted screen.
To use SenseHUD, users simply slide in a smartphone face-up, which connects via Bluetooth to open SenseDriver's special Hudson app. The device reflects images from the handset's display using a special electrochromatic LCD, which automatically adjusts to one of three viewing levels depending on ambient lighting conditions.
Like systems that come installed by automakers, the images SenseHUD throws up seemingly floats in space — ideally just below a driver's vision — so users can stay informed while keeping their eyes on the road.
Along with head-up capabilities, SenseHUD can accept voice commands through the Hudson app, including access to maps, turn-by-turn directions, current speed, reply to messages and more. Map data is taken from the OpenStreetMap project.
SenseHUD ships this summer and can be preordered for $99 through SenseDriver's website.
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