Motorcycles

Samsung and Yamaha develop Smart Windshield concept

View 5 Images
The Samsung Smart Windshield concept can display information from a smartphone directly in the rider's line of view
Yamaha
Yamaha's Tricity tilting three-wheeler was selected for the development of the Samsung Smart Windshield concept
Yamaha
The Samsung Smart Windshield concept can display information from a smartphone directly in the rider's line of view
Yamaha
Samsung's Smart Windshield concept offers the chance to judge whether to stop and read a text message, or ignore for later
Yamaha
The Samsung Smart Windshield concept is developed as a device contained within a tall after market screen
Yamaha
The Samsung Smart Windshield concept can display notifications such as calls, messages and email, but could also host more practical information from apps like maps and GPS
Yamaha
View gallery - 5 images

The Italian branches of Samsung and Yamaha have announced their collaboration in developing a new platform to promote road safety. The Smart Windshield concept involves a screen that allows access to information displayed on the rider's smartphone in the least distracting manner.

Using a phone while riding or driving is obviously neither smart, nor legal in most countries of the world. Despite the apparent risks involved in a rider focusing on something other than the road, When introducing the Smart Windshield concept, Samsung and Yamaha point to statistical data from reports by ACI/ISTAT (Automobile Club d' Italia/Istituto Nazionale di Statistica) which reveal that this trend is prevalent in Italy's young population.

The reports indicate that an alarming 25 percent of the country's youth (aged 18 to 24) gets consistently and consciously distracted by their smartphones while riding. A 17 percent national average that refers to the rest of the population isn't exactly a comforting figure either.

The Smart Windshield concept is a transparent screen placed beneath the windshield and above the instruments of a scooter. It connects wirelessly to a smartphone and, with the help of a dedicated application, displays the phone's notifications in a similar fashion to a head-up display system. The information displayed on the Smart Windshield can include calls, messages, email, browser data and possibly a lot more.

The Samsung Smart Windshield concept can display notifications such as calls, messages and email, but could also host more practical information from apps like maps and GPS
Yamaha

Samsung is developing this technology as part of its global Launching People communication project, while Yamaha offered the ideal test vehicle in the shape of the Tricity scooter. The 125 cc tilting three-wheeler has proven to be very popular with young European riders, especially the holders of the A1 introductory license class; exactly the target group that is identified in Italian statistical data as the most susceptible to distractions from smartphones.

Samsung and Yamaha say that this concept is in development phase with no commercialization plans for the time being. Apart from simply displaying notifications, the Smart Windshield concept could also be used to display useful data from applications such as maps or GPS, further enhancing its practical side. Yet the benefits from adding a second screen to the bike's instrument panel may be disputable, as the abundance of information can prove to be an even bigger distraction.

The Smart Windshield concept is outlined in the video below.

Source: Yamaha

View gallery - 5 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
4 comments
Nick Heidl
Of course in daytime Sansung, Apple, HTC etc, smartphones are useless because dots, saturation and vivid colours are more important than visibility. Explains why the video is night time.
Future3000
Oh, I made last year a Head up display for the windshield of my customized BMW HP2 Dakar. Laser projector shows on windscreen speed, rpm, gear, engine stats, navigation, "roadbook", traffic forecast, wheather forecast, internet, bluetooth... and cell phone of course and works properly at daylight. Costs: Phillips pico pics 160€, Raspberry pi 2 25€, OBD connector 12€ and a few hours to build. This year I want to add gesture recognition.
Stephen N Russell
Need Helmet HUD for day & night use or lose out. Or change optics for day use riders only Must for all motorbike makers worldwide. & quad ATVs
Michael Allan
Another distractive invention, to wow the ignorant . . . Shouldn't we be concentrating on riding. Motorcycles are easy enough to ride without any distractions, that's how I have survived riding motorcycles for 48 years !