Most auto manufacturers are building technology into the car, but a new Indiegogo campaign is hoping to add some of that tech onto your car, too.
Tech startup NeXt built a product called HeadsUP!, a visual display that projects often-used cellphone features, such as texting, voice calls, and email, onto the windshield of a car. This allows users to engage with their smartphones without needing to look down, or fumbling with them while driving.
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HeadsUP! enables voice dictation and touch-free swiping to let users interact with the screen. NeXt CEO Arnab Raychaudhuri claims the device "significantly reduces reaction time while driving."
The company's Indiegogo campaign launched last Wednesday, but as of Sunday, has raised just over $700 of its $50,000 fundraising goal.
Potential backers may be hesitant to invest in technology that is meant to encourage smartphone use while driving, even if its creators say it's safer than traditional texting. Researchers have found that drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to get into an accident, according to USA Today.
Other potential backers may be concerned with the legality of HeadsUP! In California; for example, one woman recently received a ticket for driving with Google Glass, and many states ban texting while driving altogether.
NeXt is seeking a patent for the technology, and is asking donors on Indiegogo to pay $299 for the earliest version of its HeadsUP! device.
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