Microsoft patent app reveals heads-up vehicle display, fluffy dice

It looks like Microsoft is sparing no amount of detail in its so-called "adaptive heads-up user interface for automobiles," with the company even going so far as to include a virtual pair of fluffy dice (as seen above) in the still-in-development system. According to a recently revealed patent application, the virtual dice actually simulate the movement of the real thing, bobbing back and forth as your vehicle moves. As for the more practical aspects of the system, it seems that Microsoft sees no limit to its potential, with it able to display all the information normally confined to your dash, as well as stuff stored on your cellphone, PDA, or media devices and, of course, various GPS-related information (including ads for nearby businesses). This simply being a patent application, however, there's no indication as to when or if we'll ever actually be able to get some virtual fluffy dice of our own.

[Via The Inquirer]

[Grey Acumen @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:17PM]

I have to admit, I'd like to see a car display all this crap. It'd make it a lot easier to check my speed if I didn't have a steering wheel blocking my view

[The General @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:25PM]

Don't some Cadillacs and BMWs already have heads up displays like this? I know the M series can have them, but it's just shift lights and a tachometer...

[kaztm @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:57PM]

Yes, Nissan and Toyota have them since the 80s. They wanted to go full-screen, but the authorities did not allow it for safety reasons.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 24th 2007 1:11AM]

BMW, CADILLAC, AND CORVETTE ALL HAVE A HEADSUP DISPLAY THAT PROJECTS THE SPEED ON TO THE WINDSHIELD. PERSONALLY I HAVE USED THE BMW 550i HUD AND I LIKE IT A LOT. JUST WISH THAT MORE CARS HAD IT AND THAT IT WOULD DISPLAY TELEPHONE NUMBERS (VIA BLUETOOTH) AND RADIO INFORMATION.

[KC @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:47PM]

Can anyone say, "Blue windscreen of Death"?

[fistpittingnork @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:23PM]

"Oh look, another memory reference error at 0x0001 LIGHT POLE!!!!"

[Grammar freak @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:54PM]

If it's by microsoft, you'll have to press the start button, then go through 3 levels of menu folders to see the spedometer.. no fuckin thanks

[mazola @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:06PM]

Virtual fuzzy dice, eh?

Stay classy, Microsoft.

[jrodliebs @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:09PM]

Can I be Maverick or Ice Man?

Seriously, is this an F-15 or a car? I only want a HUD if I get to pick off the asshole driver in front of me, until then, no thanks is right.

[CharlieX @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:13PM]

I certainly hope this has no basis in Windows Mobile. Can you say crash-a-lot?

[Fae Jayo @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:27PM]

0058] It should be noted that, as used herein, the term "display state" refers generally to how a display element is presented within the adaptive user interface. For example, a display state may simply consist of the location of a display element. For instance, referring to FIG. 3L, a virtual pair of fuzzy dice 320 are presented as a display element within the adaptive use interface.


As a historical footnote, this could be the first time the phrase “fuzzy dice” was used in a patent claim.

[Fae Jayo @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:31PM]

That should be:

As a historical footnote, this could be the first time the phrase “fuzzy dice” WERE used in a patent claim.

So Sorry

[MasterCKO @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:48PM]

no, you were right the first time. "was" is correct in that context.

[Evan @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:35PM]

Fuzzy dice as a driving aid? It's true, but...

I have a fuzzy toy hanging from my rearview mirror when I autocross race. I don't even notice it while racing, I'm far too busy looking ahead! However my car camera records the little plush toy (along with the view out the windshield, the steering wheel, and gauges). Watching it sway really helps when I review the video to see how smooth my driving was, and see where I need to improve my driving!

[iTea @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:44PM]

insert obligatory M$ crash joke here. __________________________

[MasterCKO @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:49PM]

yeah, seriously. "MS crashes something something" har har har.

[Spanky @ Aug 23rd 2007 5:33PM]

until the car can drive itself. minimal information such as that already in your dash panel would be useful but I don't need phone, email, PDA, lunch and other alerts/data cluttering my view and vying for my attention when I should be focusing my attention to avoiding the millions of maniacs on the road out trying to hit me.

[J3 L U N T @ Aug 23rd 2007 6:38PM]

tell me M$ is trying to steal BMW market share from APPLE?! oh noes! that is the super=dooper BMW M3 pictured in there... dont give in bmw

[steve @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:34PM]

"oh noes! that is the super=dooper BMW M3"
go back to the joystiq comments

[J3 L U N T @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:42PM]

hi steve,

what is this that you are referring? i am confused. who is joystiq?

please respond in english please.

thank you.

[kyle allen @ Aug 23rd 2007 8:17PM]

i dont think my 82 tercel has enough ram

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:01PM]

i've already seen a heads up display in a rental car. i'm just waiting to find one in the local junk yard so i can hook it up in mine =D

but putting ads and all that crap? i hope this doesnt take after vista and slow my car down 20%... yar har

but all of that extra crap like ads would just get annoying and i'd unplug it.
it would be fun to h4x and maybe have it play movies (while stopped, of course)

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:03PM]

forgot to add...
look at the patent on the site and tell me how many times the word "plurality" is used.

[Mike @ Aug 25th 2007 7:48PM]

Fluffy dice??? That reminds me of the time that Andrew Dice Clay appeared in a porno and had to be prepared.

[bullert ramirez @ Nov 29th 2007 5:35PM]

how high will the display go in mph, can sombody tell me??

[bullert ramirez @ Nov 29th 2007 6:15PM]

how high will the display go in mph, can sombody tell me??

[Al Thomson @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:41AM]

Hey microsoft is trying to do something that I've been looking up for years, the main problem I've found is how to backlight it. - Good luck microsoft (you'll need it) - although microsoft is a multi-billion dollar corperation, and I'm just a broke 17 year old high school hippie-nerd ^_^