We discovered yesterday that people using in-car satellite navigation systems can't be trusted not to gawp at their mapping device when they should be looking at the road. Fortunately, one company has found a way that might reduce the level of distraction presented by these chittering GPS systems - by hiding them away inside the rear view mirror.
This is called the SmartMirror and it's powered by Navigon Mobile Navigator 6.5. The hardware sports a 4" touch screen, an SD card slot for the map data, integrated speakers and Bluetooth. It also has two video inputs, so one could be a reversing camera and the other... well, maybe the other should be a front-mounted camera in case you find the SmartMirror so distracting you can't see what's happening ahead of you.
The SmartMirror will be hitting the US at the beginning of August for a weighty $799. We'd hope to start seeing these or something similar winging our way soon; before drivers equipped with traditional GPS devices kill us all.
Azentek (via Navigadget)
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This is a stupid idea. Why when I'm driving forwards why would I want be looking upwards & backwards?
The easiest way to use GPS sensibly is to not mount it slap bang in the middle of the windscreen. I can't for the life of me figure out why people do that, it's sitting where you need to be able to see!
Instead, mount it in the right corner, closest to the blind spot provided by the pillar so that it's obscuring no more extra space than was already being hidden by the car. Then you can see just by looking over the top of your right hand on the wheel what's going on and your still looking where you're going.
I even have my Sat-Nav muted now because I can spot-check my route without any extra effort or inconvenience. It's just common sense... or atleast that's what it's supposed to be.
Very good points there - I have no idea why people choose to obscure 50% of their view of the road with a GPS either.
I will say that a lot depends on the shape of the dash, and the front windscreen itself, though.
I have a Honda Civic that just wouldn't fit a GPS mounted on the right of the steering wheel, but the relatively narrow windscreen (and the fact I'm a bit a lanky bugger) would put the rear view mirror at a decent height for me.
The other alternative better than all on offer here is to buy a vent mount. The unit then isn't on the windscreen, won't droop or fall off the windscreen in transit through weight or road vibration (my TomTom does that on occasion and will inevitably scare me into a ditch) and can be accessed by driver and passenger with ease if mounted centrally.
I plan to buy one for my XL. Having the unit furthur inside the... er, 'cockpit' aswell would also reduce glare from the sun which can on occasion completely wash out the display.