Shoei Heads Up Display helmet -- IT-HT

Killin_ix

Well-known member
Announced at CES recently, Shoei is coming out with a head up display helmet. Unlike Skully, this one has legs as it's coming from a big helmet manufacturer. Maybe a thread coming? Arai?

https://www.webbikeworld.com/shoei-reveals-the-it-ht-smart-helmet-at-ces/

Shoei-NSWest-IT-HL_11.jpg
 

Krooklyn

Usual Suspect
This could be promising. Finally, a legit helmet company getting into this space. I wish there were more pictures and information about it.
 

Schnellbandit

I see 4 lights!
The one thing I see with displays on the face-shield is that in a car when you look around the HUD doesn't follow your field of view. In the helmet it's always there and even if you can see through the images it cuts down on detail.

Look how long it took for the majority of people to support laws regarding texting while driving (distracted driving) and still people do it.

This could end up being similar where not enough data is available before starting to put this in helmets. How many people have used a helmet with a HUD type interface and has there been enough real world testing to show it won't distract the riders?

Faceshields get bug splattered and now you have that plus the displays. You can turn them off, how many will?

Consider things like temperature. First, you're on a motorcycle and if you don't know if the temps are okay then maybe something else is wrong. Speed and tach? Until recently, most vehicles put those readouts out of the line of primary vision, probably for good reason. Engine data? Same thing.

Maps? Ok but if you're riding in the twisties who is going to look and if you're going distance it probably doesn't matter much.

All this stuff means putting batteries in helmets, costs going up and the way motorcycles accessories are sold, lots of people including new riders want the shiny new thing. Maybe this isn't such a good idea.
 

Blankpage

alien
Whats the battery life. Motorcycling is about keeping it simple. I don't need HUD, what info would I need in front of my face all the time.
However a built in camera would be nice.
 

dittoalex

Too much lean angle...
Maps? Ok but if you're riding in the twisties who is going to look and if you're going distance it probably doesn't matter much.

Just last night I was considering the NUVIZ HUD specifically to not miss the turns when riding goaty back roads, as a replacement for my Sena 10C which is crapping out on its battery and second set of speakers. But the NUVIZ has poor firmware and screen resolution, so skipping that.
 

Schnellbandit

I see 4 lights!
Just last night I was considering the NUVIZ HUD specifically to not miss the turns when riding goaty back roads, as a replacement for my Sena 10C which is crapping out on its battery and second set of speakers. But the NUVIZ has poor firmware and screen resolution, so skipping that.

Anything more than a straight freeway and I find checking on gauges and anything but road conditions to be just distraction. I have tried just the audio from GPs and that works pretty good and doesn't interfere with what limited views helmets offer. Maybe just me but I respond better to an audio "turn right in 500'" than some map that is translucent and omni-present (so far only experience in cars).

For some people the HUD type inside a helmet might work though.
 

dittoalex

Too much lean angle...
Anything more than a straight freeway and I find checking on gauges and anything but road conditions to be just distraction. I have tried just the audio from GPs and that works pretty good and doesn't interfere with what limited views helmets offer. Maybe just me but I respond better to an audio "turn right in 500'" than some map that is translucent and omni-present (so far only experience in cars).

For some people the HUD type inside a helmet might work though.

Here is a doctored photo of the NUVIZ Navigation screen. If I could remove the top and bottom UI elements, and if the maps text wasn't illegible, and if the app allowed custom point-by-point maps, and if the product didn't have terrible firmware -- I'd buy it.


71c4.gif
 

Reli

Well-known member
Here is a doctored photo of the NUVIZ Navigation screen. If I could remove the top and bottom UI elements, and if the maps text wasn't illegible, and if the app allowed custom point-by-point maps, and if the product didn't have terrible firmware -- I'd buy it.


71c4.gif

That text is way too tiny. Plus, to even attempt to read it, your eyes would need to focus on an object only 4-5 inches away, which is quite different from the objects you need to focus on ahead. Some people might not be able to shift their focus quickly enough, if at all, especially older people who might need reading glasses.
 
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boney

Miles > Posts
Kind of misleading how the image is shown 4-5 feet away, when in reality it's only 4-5 inches from your eyes.

The image is close but its focused for a little bit of distance to make it easier.

Still waiting for a reasonable and reliable modular system, so I wouldn't have to replace my system every time I get a new helmet.
 

bradlys

Well-known member
I'll have to wait probably 10 years before these helmets ever get put into more than one size. Us round heads will never get to use one.
 

Schnellbandit

I see 4 lights!

That illustrates one of the biggest flaws in smart helmets. Reli got it right, mount the phone/gps.

The image shows the rider and it divides up the field of view and then tries to point to separate fields of vision. It also assumes that the information provided by a smart helmet is a constant need. I don't know about others but maps and directions are something referred to not constantly looked at. Basically what it seems like smart helmet makers are trying to do it treat riding a motorcycle like driving a car but the needs and demands upon the rider are vastly different for each.

When you mount a phone or GPS you get to choose where it is located. Some stick them higher up, some to one side and some lower and centered. The big difference is that in each case the rider doesn't have to look at it. Take the lower and centered position as in the illustration. Other than when referring to the map it's not visible and therefore doesn't reduce the field of view or vision. If there is a malfunction with the device it doesn't intrude and distract the rider either. That can't be said of the smart helmet because without turning it off it is always on and in your face.

You can't look away from the smart helmet HUD. When you ride, does your head stay looking straight ahead or does it do the swivel and look around for hazards and such? With a mounted device if you do that, when you look around the display doesn't follow you. With the HUD you can't get away from it.

While the HUD might be able to be moved to display at different parts of the view who is going to do that while riding? Riding a motorcycle is such an individual thing that trying to shoehorn in tech borrowed from cars seems troublesome and counter productive. One day they might figure out how to actively control the HUB based on rider needs but until then it's just the "it works in a car so lets stick it in a helmet" thing. I know, pilots have them but when drivers and riders have as much training and proficiency as they do, go for it.

I sure hope too much tech doesn't take the fun out of riding. While I don't engage in the activity, with some bikes you need to push a frigging button to do a wheelie or slide the back end. Imagine that.
 
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