In-Car HUDs

Head Up Displays

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HUD, or “heads up display,” is an item of standard equipment for a modern armed military aircraft. They are used to display targeting information for the weapon systems, speed and heading and in some types, directional assistance.

A small number of cars currently use head up displays. Some American Corvettes use this system, or a few high end BMWs.

However, there are good reasons why car designers have for the most part continued to use gauges and dials. This is because the human brain is better able to interpret a gauge and its meaning rather than a number. You merely need glance at your speedometer to know your speed, within a few miles per hour. You must read the number on a digital screen. This translates into a real benefit for drivers since we may check the vehicle’s indicated speed with a glance, or even in your peripheral vision, whereas a digital number still requires a definite look.

I’m sure there are ways around this...

Engine speed is perhaps a more useful item to have projected on the windscreen. Having driven a couple of cars with an A-pillar mounted tachometer, it does feel a very logical place to put one – why don’t manufacturers put them there as standard? When accelerating hard, or judging what gear you should be in for a specific manoeuvre, it is handy to have the revs in an obvious spot.

Oh, and as for the above picture, shame on you for assuming the Ka will reach 138 mph!