Charting the Current Trends in See- through Heads

Charting the Current Trends in Seethrough Heads-Up Concepts
Virve Inget
Jonna Häkkilä
Abstract
Center for Internet Excellence,
Center for Internet Excellence,
University of Oulu
University of Oulu
FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
[email protected]
[email protected]
Heads-up displays represent a see-through technology
which is today gaining an increasing amount of
attention. In this paper, we have charted different
application domains and form factors of the existing,
promoted and envisioned product concepts for headsup displays. We seek to provide an overview of current
concept trends in the area and contribute to the
conversation on the design space for the technology.
Jani Väyrynen
Center for Internet Excellence,
University of Oulu
FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
[email protected]
Author Keywords
Juho Rantakari
Wearable computing; head-mounted displays; seethrough displays; heads-up displays.
Center for Internet Excellence,
University of Oulu
FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
[email protected]
NordiCHI 2014 workshop on Interactions and Applications
on See-through Technologies
October 26, 2014, Helsinki, Finland
Authors maintain the copyright.
ACM Classification Keywords
H.5.m. Information interfaces and presentation (e.g.,
HCI): Miscellaneous.
Introduction
Advancements in augmented reality technologies are
obscuring the difference between the real and digital
world [3], enabling display and auditory systems to be
embedded or added as accessories in wearable devices
and visual aids or in windshields and dashboards in
vehicles. Due to technology miniaturization, improved
display and computing technologies, the world has now
come a long way from the early, cumbersome and
heavy prototypes of head-mounted displays [1].
In the automotive industry there seems to be a growing
demand for more expressive and intuitive ways to
provide drivers with information on their car’s
performance and condition, navigational data, and to
improve safety and comfort. In combination with
sensors tracking voice and motion, interactive heads-up
displays (HUDs) and head-mounted or helmet-mounted
displays (HMDs) offer an attractive alternative to
traditional dashboards and meters.
A heads-up display is a transparent or miniaturized
display technology that does not require users to shift
their gaze from where they are naturally looking. In
HMDs this technology is embedded or used as an
accessory. The main advantage of HUDs is that hands
are freed from control interfaces, as the seen and heard
information can be controlled for example with voice
commands, head gestures, and eye movements. In
addition, the focus is able to stay on the real world
events because there is no need to shift one’s gaze to a
separate display device to see information. Different
technologies, like small-scale projectors, small displays,
and see-through mobile device displays have been
developed and are under further development to turn
the fantasy seen thus far only in science fiction into
reality, as everyday commodities in our vehicles,
improving the safety, comfort, and overall quality of
our travels.
Charting the products concepts
In the following, we illustrate different categories,
which represent the central concept areas in current
heads-up see-through concepts.
Helmets
Helmets with mounted displays (HMDs) have been used
for a long time in military aviation. In recent years
there has been growing interest in developing them
also for other purposes, especially for motorcycle
drivers. When the display follows the head and the
driver’s gaze direction, s/he can more easily keep their
situational awareness within limited view the helmet is
providing. Helmet concepts are presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Helmet technology concepts
Glasses
Head-mounted display glasses are head-worn devices,
typically resembling eye masks, goggles or spectacles
that are positioned near the user’s eyes. Most HMD
glasses have a display for each eye, giving the user the
sense of depth when viewing image content. Like in
helmet mounted displays, the key idea is that the
display always follows the head movement and
direction of the wearer’s gaze. Probably the most
commonly known product in this area is the Google
Glass [2]. HMD glasses concepts are presented in the
Figure 2.
how information is positioned on the windshield. Due
the safety issues in real world use, the usability of the
concepts is of central concern. Clarity and
unobtrusiveness of the user interface, as well as
placement and physical form factors play important
roles in the concept design. Car HUD concepts are
presented in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Glasses type technology concepts
Car Windshields & HUDs
The automobile industry is constantly seeking new
ways to display vehicle and driving context related
information for the driver in a way that does not
distract driver from the main task, driving the vehicle
safely. Separate HUD devices or windshield integrated
HUDs are seen as a way to provide a partial solution for
this challenge. Standalone HUD devices can be
positioned on top of the dashboard and the information
is then projected on to the selected windshield area.
Also mobile application implementations are available
that reflect information from a smart phone display to
the windshield. Windshield integrated HUDs remove the
need for separate projection devices when the glass
itself is used as a display. This gives more freedom on
Figure 3. Car context concepts
Visionary Concepts in the Media
The entertainment industry has provided several
interesting concepts related to HUDs and HMDs through
the years. Recent films and series such as Iron Man,
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D or Oblivion introduce new ways
and ideas on how context related information can be
displayed for the driver. Due to artistic freedom, these
concepts are more visionary, presenting user interfaces
and visual details that would often be hard to achieve
with current technologies, and where the usability has
not been a requirement as such. Entertainment
industry envisioned concepts are presented in Figure 4.
technologies ensures that there will be suitable
platforms for augmented and mixed reality applications
for various situations whether it is everyday use
wearing glasses, driving a car, or watching the outside
world through one’s window at home. The key factors
in the successful adoption of new technologies is how
well they are designed to embed to our existing world
without interfering with everyday life, and how well
they support our senses to enrich our experiences.
References
[1] Azuma, R.T. Tracking requirements for augmented
reality. Communications of the ACM 36, 7 (1993), 50–
51.
Google Glass. http://www.google.com/glass/start/.
Figure 4. Technology concepts in movies
[2]
Discussion
[3] Milgram, P., Kishino, F. A Taxonomy of Mixed
Reality Visual Displays. IEICE Trans. Information
Systems, vol. E77-D, no. 12, (1994), 1321–1329.
In this paper, we have categorized different heads-up
display concepts. It is obvious that the technology
trend is growing and provides an inspiring domain for
application, user interface, and industrial designers.
The multitude of both existing and upcoming rival

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