Focus - Fuel saving - head up display

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Thu 2 Oct 2014 17:36
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - surfdriver13

I have developed a prototype of new type of fuel saver which shows up on the windscreen as a head up display. It is non electronic and potentially inexpensive. You can see a short video of it in action by entering ; G ZERO FUEL SAVER into youtube or Google. I would be grateful for any comments or observations. Thanks, Ivan Laud

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Thu 2 Oct 2014 19:26
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - catsdad
I've looked at the video. Not sure if it's a simulation or the prototype in action. If the latter its a dangerous experiment with the heads up frequently obscuring the road ahead. Even if this is sorted it's too complex as it measures three variables and is not intuitive. It would need to work on a simpler basis as other economy devices do for example by one changing light colour. As it stands its way too distracting.
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Thu 2 Oct 2014 22:13
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - Wackyracer

It's just a gizmo that shows G force. I can accelerate and brake gently without something like this.

I believe you can download an App that does something like this for smartphones.

BTW, I wouldn't be stopping that close to a junction. You could get rear ended if someone comes hooning around that corner.

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Fri 3 Oct 2014 18:28
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - surfdriver13

wackyracer, How did you deduce I was stopped at a junction?

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Fri 3 Oct 2014 19:15
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - RobJP

wackyracer, How did you deduce I was stopped at a junction?

He means at the end. You've pulled off the main road onto a side road, on a very tight junction, and you've come to a halt within 10-15 yards.

As he says, if someone takes that junction a bit quicker, then it's going to be a bit dodgy for both of you.

There are already lots of apps for your phone, etc to monitor your driving style. Some of them are multi-purpose, acting as trackday laptimers at the same time, or even working with your phone GPS. With all of those, you can have your phone mounted on the dash, like so many people do already, and it's no more awkward than using a HUD.

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Sat 4 Oct 2014 12:34
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - surfdriver13

wackyracer, How did you deduce I was stopped at a junction?

He means at the end. You've pulled off the main road onto a side road, on a very tight junction, and you've come to a halt within 10-15 yards.

As he says, if someone takes that junction a bit quicker, then it's going to be a bit dodgy for both of you.

There are already lots of apps for your phone, etc to monitor your driving style. Some of them are multi-purpose, acting as trackday laptimers at the same time, or even working with your phone GPS. With all of those, you can have your phone mounted on the dash, like so many people do already, and it's no more awkward than using a HUD.

Thanks for that. Yes it was stupid of me to park up near that junction.

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Sat 4 Oct 2014 12:57
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - surfdriver13
I've looked at the video. Not sure if it's a simulation or the prototype in action. If the latter its a dangerous experiment with the heads up frequently obscuring the road ahead. Even if this is sorted it's too complex as it measures three variables and is not intuitive. It would need to work on a simpler basis as other economy devices do for example by one changing light colour. As it stands its way too distracting.

It is the prototype videod from inside the car. The size of the display is actually only about 2 inches square and as it is located mid windscreen at driver's eye level I don't think it is too distracting. It is away from his main vision and he sees it out of the corner of his eye. Also, in time once trained by the gadget the driver needs to lean on it less and less.

I have worked with other savers which are electronic with flashing coloured lights etc and in my opinion digital devices like that are not so user friendly as a simple analogue scale.

This is a purely mechanical device requiring no power and I have worked on the design and presentation a lot to make as simple as possible for the driver to grasp the info quickly. However I could probably improve it further.

.

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Sat 4 Oct 2014 13:25
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - Wackyracer

How many people do you imagine will buy it? I know a few people who could benefit from something like this but, I doubt they would buy it.

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Sat 4 Oct 2014 19:02
Focus - Fuel saving - head up display - catsdad
Thanks for coming back. In the video the display totally obscures the nearside lane at the outset and swings across both lanes just before the two minute mark. I guess then its not filmed from the driver's point of view. I accept too that users would adapt to the analogue approach. Maybe it's more of a goer than I first thought so best of luck.
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