Virtual Cable: Replacing satnav with cable cars 17 Dec 2007

If you've been using satnav systems for the last few years, you'll be well aware of their flaws. Put simply, they're great at telling you where you are, but no so great at telling you where to go. In many cases, for example, it is impossible to tell which left (or right) they want you to take, leading to many a wild goose chase around the back streets of the place you're trying to get to.

Fear not, however, because a US company called Making Virtual Solid may just have solved these problems. Instead of voicing confusing directions (or having you take your eyes off the road ahead to squint at a tiny set of directions on a six inch screen), MVS's Cable Vision car navigation system projects a red ribbon onto your windscreen showing you the exact path to take. (The ribbon actually appears to exist in 3D space outside your car - and looks something like a red cable hanging above the road - thanks to a patent pending volumetric display system using lasers and mirrors!). If you're struggling to imagine this from our description, take a look at the video clips on the company's website.

[via OhGizmo!]