Safety for a vehicle operator with an hmd

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for integrating head-worn computing into an automotive environment. A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety may include determining if the user is looking through a windshield of the vehicle or at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior. If the user is looking through the windshield, the displayed content is prevented from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display. If the user is looking at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, displayed content is provided for viewing by the user within the display field of view.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety, comprising:
 determining if the user is looking through one of a windshield of the vehicle and an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior adjacent to the windshield;   if the user is looking through the windshield, preventing displayed content from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display; and   if the user is looking at the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, providing displayed content for viewing by the user within the display field of view.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified and displayed content associated with the identified portion is provided for viewing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by comparing a gaze direction of the head-mounted display to a motion direction of the head-mounted display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by analyzing images captured by a camera associated with the head-mounted display to identify objects in the vehicle interior. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by analyzing images captured by an infrared camera to identify one or more infrared targets in the vehicle interior that are associated with the adjacent portion of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying whether the user is looking through the windshield or a side window. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile, an airplane, a ship or a train. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed content is navigational information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed content is operating information associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed content includes images from cameras external to the vehicle.