It seems the iPhone really tickles the fancy of some Japanese gadget freaks. Following the DIY iPhone digital signage system bag, Tokyo-based Ubiquitous Entertainment now gives us something even cooler: The “iPhone ARider”, a futuristic, portable navigation system. The ARider, an experimental project, mainly consists of an iPhone 3GS and a retractable head-mounted display (model T3-A by Scalar Corporation).
It can be attached to a helmet and be used when biking around the city for example. Users can also make hands-free calls while wearing the equipment (via Bluetooth) and connect to Twitter via TwitBird Pro [iTunes link], a paid Twitter client for the iPhone, to get push notifications.
As the 3GS features a compass and is GPS-enabled, all you need to do in order find your way is to move your head (the map app you need to run on the iPhone will rotate accordingly). Obviously, the main point of the ARider is there’s no need to look at the iPhone screen as the map is projected onto the HMD (more information on Ubiquitous Entertainment’s project can be found here).
This video shows the iPhone ARider in action in the city of Tokyo:
i would like to see him use this when it rains :/
it seems like a terrible idea to attach your iphone that way. first of all, any crash and its getting tossed, scratched, etc.
2ndly, its just asking to be ripped of his head by a thief.
The guys put the iPhone in a bag later (see here: http://http//zeptotools.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/further-research-of-arider/).
As for your second argument, this is Japan so getting something stolen is pretty unlikely ;)
Apps for I phone rider:
o Search & Rescue
o Motorbike Tours
o Motorbike Rentals
o Bicycle tours
o Courier service
o Undercover police work
o Survelliance mobile
o Treasure Hunt games
o GPS Games
o Police & Fire Depts
o Secret Service US, MI6.
o NATO
o Scotland Yard
o FedEx?
o Home use.
o Bicycle & Motorbike rentals.
That could be extremely useful potentially. Of course the display would have to be very unobtrusive – but lets not forget that cyclists do not only cycle around major cities they also cycle on empty country lanes and cycle paths which would make it possible to use this on the move
Vegeta! Whats the scouter say about his power level?!?!