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DCA Design’s helmet concept gives you a 360º view with heads-up display visor

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DCA Optic
Images courtesy DCA Optic.

DCA Design, a Warwick, UK based industrial design firm, has put forth a prototype bicycle helmet dubbed Optic, offering a rear facing camera and a drop down visor with display capabilities. An onboard computer projects data onto the clear visor, allowing the rider a 360 degree view when the rear facing camera is displayed on the visor. The option of overlaying other data, such as navigation or hazard warnings, brings the Optic into the realm of augmented reality.

Performance data could also be displayed along side real time race stats, however, in it’s current conceptual form, Optic is geared towards bike commuters, which is no surprise as DCA Design’s portfolio includes things like trains, insulin injection pens and other consumer interface/ergonomic solutions. For now it’s focused primarily on issues of safety and convenience, offering navigation, the ability to see what’s behind you, proximity detectors (blind spot monitors) and obstacle monitoring.

optic_helmet_8

The design world liked the implementation of this helmet enough to give it a Red Dot award for innovation.  The slickly produced video below gives a good idea of what the helmet is all about and, as with all things digital, much of Optic’s usefulness will depend on the software available to make the whole concept work. In the end though, that’s what this is: a concept. There are no reported plans to bring it to market, though it does seem like the time is ripe for its implementation. The ubiquity of smart phones offers a way to externalize data processing, helping to keep such designs lighter and more affordable, so if this particular iteration of a ‘smart helmet’ doesn’t come to pass, it’s probably not long before we something similar. Maybe even a way to project the info directly onto your favorite shades rather than relying on external monitors like those from Recon, Solos and GarminEverysight gets close, but locks you into their sunglasses design.

DCA Design

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strange
strange
7 years ago

Stop with the HUD attempts! Cyclists are already 3 batteries deep and extra distracted just to go for some bike path PRs.

#makecyclinggreatagain

Daryl
Daryl
7 years ago
Reply to  strange

You obviously don’t commute every day. I ride 20 miles a day commuting home, 4k miles per year. I would love an ability to see cars come up from behind me.

Dylan
Dylan
7 years ago
Reply to  Daryl

I find a mirror pretty effective for solving that problem. Cost me $15 five years ago, and I have never had to update the firmware or recharge the batteries in that time.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

while I’m generally not a fan of instrumented cycling, this thing seems like a good idea for commuters, given the frequency of encounters with homicidal maniac drivers. Performance data is superfluous, but easy to add given the hardware in place.

atlbikeshop
7 years ago

Nice idea, after-all, basically every vehicle on the road has rear view mirrors/cameras!

I would like to see this done with just mirrors but maintain the sleek aesthetic – Instead of the goofy eyeglass or stick on helmet style mirrors.

whatever
whatever
7 years ago

Like the ideal, but from appearances, cooling airflow may be lacking.

Jason Miles
7 years ago

I think integrating cameras and HUDs to helmets could get expensive real quick. There for sure needs to be a way to swap the electronics into a new shell after a crash.

BikeHoarder6
BikeHoarder6
7 years ago

Perhaps it would just be easier to outfit all cyclists with a Stormtrooper helmet and armor. E11 blaster not included.

mathew pitzer
mathew pitzer
7 years ago

just turn your head its worked for me for 26 years

Joseph
Joseph
3 years ago

My only on concern is , most helmets have a shelf life 2/3 years without an accident, can I transfer the camera and lens to a new helmet?

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