This Handy Gadget Is Like Google Glass For Your Car Navdy projects turn-by-turn directions onto the road in front of you, and allows you to answer calls by just waving your hand.

By Emily Price

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Let's be honest. How many of us reach for our smartphone the moment we hear it ring or some type of message come in? Even when we're driving and know we shouldn't? Statistics say drivers are three times as likely to get into an accident when they use their phone in the car. Yet many of us do it anyway.

One company has created a way for you to keep an eye on your phone without looking away from the road. Meet Navdy, a head-up display that shows driving directions, text messages and phone calls on a projection screen that looks like it's floating on the street in front of you. The self-described "Google Glass for your car" is available for pre-order starting today, with plans to start shipping at the beginning of next year.

In-vehicle head-up displays aren't anything new. Some 1.2 million cars were sold with a head-up display system last year and about 800,000 the year before. Navdy is different from many of the options out there now, in part because of how you interact with it.

This Handy Gadget Is Like Google Glass For Your Car

Image credit: Patrick Czapla/Navdy

Related: Say Hello to the Robotic Personal Assistant of Your Dreams

"I think there's a lot of opportunities to improve the experience of using apps and your phone in the car, and make it much better, but also make it much safer at the same time," Navdy CEO Doug Simpson says.

The head-up display unit rests on your car's dashboard right above your steering wheel and uses a high-resolution projector to display a transparent image in front of you -- visible even in bright sunlight. You can interact with the unit by talking or through gesture controls, so you never have to look away from the road in front of you. For instance, if Mom calls while you're headed to work, you can swipe left in the air to accept the call and start talking, or swipe right to dismiss it. Regardless of your choice, your driving directions will always stay on the left side of the screen, so you won't miss a turn while you chat.

"Knobs, buttons and touch screens all force you to look down and take your eyes off the road, but touchless gestures are very natural and allow you to keep your eyes on the road," says Simpson.

Related: Get This: A Cooler That Uses Dirt to Keep Your Beers Cool

Users can decide how and when notifications appear. For instance, you can opt to not get text messages at all while you drive, or have texts read aloud to you while the car is in motion. There are also parental controls to restrict what younger drivers might be able to see on the screen.

The display can also be integrated into your car's system to display your speed, warning notifications, or even let you know how many miles you can go before you're really out of gas. The device is powered by and connects to your car's computer through its diagnostics port, an easy-to-access connection in every vehicle made in 1996 or after.

Navdy is hoping to raise $60,000 during its 30-day pre-order campaign starting today. During the pre-order period it's selling the device for $299, a $200 discount from its expected $499 retail price.

This Handy Gadget Is Like Google Glass For Your Car

Image credit: Patrick Czapla/Navdy

Related: Fade to 'Vantablack': Scientists Invent a Material So Black Your Eyes Can't See It

Emily Price

Technology Writer

Emily Price is a tech reporter based in San Francisco, Calif. She specializes in mobile technology, social media, apps, and startups. Her work has appeared in a number of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, PC World, Macworld, CNN and Mashable.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Solutions

Say Hello to the PDF Multi-Tool You Didn't Know You Needed

Get lifetime access to UPDF for just $47.99—the best price online right now.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business Culture

It's Time to Rewrite Your Company's Values — Here's How

Most companies' values are forgotten or disconnected from daily operations. By rethinking and co-creating values with your team, you can transform them into actionable tools that align behavior, build trust and drive performance.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.