I'm Listening

[neps]

z00story - not sure if you saw this link in another thread, but you should check it out - a pretty cool example of the Knight 2000 interfaces - with a touch screen upgrade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfTlLTMeRGY

Which also makes me wonder - are you doing sound effects with the windshield? If you used some of the original series bloops and bleeps - that would be pretty great too.

I'm a bit saddened that it doesn't seem like what you guys do affects the rest of the car. The interior of the car should be a complete living organism in some respects, to develop them without thinking how they relate, or designing a language that applies to other elements in the car, it might miss it's mark.

Also, the font in the '08 Backdoor Pilot UI was a bit hookey too (just rewatched it on the subway over the last few days). Just because its the car of the future, it doesn't mean they're going to forget about good typography! Something like a Gotham or a Helvetica is really clean and crisp. Oh! You might actually want to try the font Clearview - it was created for more legible highway signage (the interiors of the letters have nice spacing) but it's a nice slick font that even the new at&t logo is using. (http://www.clearviewhwy.com/)

[scottab21]

Hey z00story, how about putting up a display of KITT's power usage in the HUD. This could be used when turbo boosting, and could also be used at various points pertaining to the story. More Knight logos instead of so much Cobra emblems, we must remember that this is the Knight Foundation, not the FORD company Michael is working for...LOL

[Rockatteer]

I can't help thinking the HUD in that picture at the start of this thread is too much. Maybe you could give a nod to the old series by using just two HUD "windows" off to Mikes right, so they resemble the original twin monitors of the old Kitt's dash.

I also quite like the idea of the virtual display Kift had in KR2000. That could be used for X-ray, infra-red, highlighting targets, etc. Even things like the graphic representations of micro-locking a cars breaks could be shown in a virtual reality like manor on the windscreen.

I think you could marry the VR display and the two separate screen like displays together, by using the "screens" to provide additional information... for example....

Kitts driving along and highlights a car coming towards them (kinda like targeting in a fighter plane). Mike requests more information about it and that information (owner address etc) appears in one of the display windows, while a second one shows a rear view as the car passes them.

I know this is out of your area of control, but I really think the dash needs a monitor in it still and some function buttons for doing stuff. I think that kind of thing just works for TV.

[PHOENIXZERO]

z00story - not sure if you saw this link in another thread, but you should check it out - a pretty cool example of the Knight 2000 interfaces - with a touch screen upgrade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfTlLTMeRGY

Nice replica that has a slightly updated feel to it with the touch screen. Sounded like he had some voice recognition software installed as well. Then that song came almost out of no where..

[Skav]

z00story - not sure if you saw this link in another thread, but you should check it out - a pretty cool example of the Knight 2000 interfaces - with a touch screen upgrade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfTlLTMeRGY

Nice replica that has a slightly updated feel to it with the touch screen. Sounded like he had some voice recognition software installed as well. Then that song came almost out of no where..

If it were up to me I'd have had that touch screen upgrade for the show.

[PHOENIXZERO]

Nah, the show needs something a little better looking or advanced than that, along with some eye candy for the dash! I see smooth, black glass interface that's touch sensitive where they could even make up where they could be "locked" with a finger print based recognition system so unauthorized users couldn't access them unless perhaps KITT grants additional access though when the buttons are used KITT can't over ride it, similarly to how he couldn't in the original series, maybe with some bump patterns so to make it easier to tell which function is which without looking. With it changing from green to red when pressed. All the functions of the car though at the very least should have some back up and not fully be reliant on either the HUD or voice activation. We'll see what they do...

[zero]

z00story, thanks for being here that's awesome. I was wondering if you could tell us a bit more about what you've already developed for the HUD. One idea I thought of was that it could be used to display real time GPS information. It would also be cool if when looking through the windshield, it auto identified vehicles based on licence plate and displayed info about the car, driver, etc. I'm thinking kind of like a fighter jet how a box shows up on the hud around enemy planes with information.

I'll post more when I think of it.

[PHOENIXZERO]

I don't think he can say anything about it due to his NDA. Though maybe that only cover's story info he may be privy too, I dunno, I didn't get a look at his edited post to know what he changed.

[seeker78]

wow, what a great thread!!!! others have said most of what I could think of...

but, I would say, as far as the alternate displays (passive and active radio and sound), in addition to being able to replace the view out of the windshield, there should also be an augmented reality view, where if anything of note is detected on the scanner it is displayed in the appropriate place. For example, if driving at night, and you can't see another car, but passive sonar detects sound associated with an approaching car, that could be represented on the screen as an icon that appears to be at a distance. Or the location of gunshots could be overlaid on the windshield. That one augmented reality windshield that someone posted, that's probably a good reference point, although they're right it needs to be toned down a little lol

[Skav]

Nah, the show needs something a little better looking or advanced than that, along with some eye candy for the dash! I see smooth, black glass interface that's touch sensitive where they could even make up where they could be "locked" with a finger print based recognition system so unauthorized users couldn't access them unless perhaps KITT grants additional access though when the buttons are used KITT can't over ride it, similarly to how he couldn't in the original series, maybe with some bump patterns so to make it easier to tell which function is which without looking. With it changing from green to red when pressed. All the functions of the car though at the very least should have some back up and not fully be reliant on either the HUD or voice activation. We'll see what they do...

lol, I have to admit, the reason for my last statement is because I'm such a hardcore fan of the original show, I could just see basically the same dash but with a bit more of an upgrade. Plus the dash has still stood the test of time in terms of look and design.

[JJSoCrazy]

I like the ideas I read here and thank you z00story for acknowledging and hearing us out on this subject.

Now, I like the whole iPhone idea (because I have one! 3G), touchscreen and everything to your fingertips. If you seen Iron Man you can get an understanding when he is building his suit and in his helmet when he speaks with Jarvis, I like the whole idea of virtual reality and such.

The checkerboard thing is not a bad idea to remember the old series with, for example when he is viewing a video of a suspect approaching and then closes the screen out it will do some sort of pattern like the checkerboard when going in and out of that view.

Another thing I would like to see is if Michael needs to make a fake ID or a printout of something, Michael can customize and view it on the screen to choose what needs in that specific mission or instant need of it. Also if he needs to hear a recording of a suspect stating something he can visually view it like the iPhone visual voicemail and be able to rewind and slow or whatever needed at the touch of his finger. Even looking up a dept. store or something in the area, KITT can show on half the screen a map of where the place is, and the other half will show a picture of the store and it's info regarding what he needs.

Now for widgets, I would like to see certain things like one for a map, one for anything related to the car (tachometer, speedometer, rpm, etc), maybe another for the criminal/FBI database to search for a certain person, I would also like to see something with one of the widgets allowing hacking access for example telephone lines, computers, etc.

Basically anything that regards something for a mission, KITT's configurations, or most of the options and things needed can be adjusted and controlled with the touch screen interface.

Thanks!

Joe

[Cam KNIGHT]

What sort of other widgets would you guys like to see be able to float around the HUD?

It woold be cool if KITT in some sitations moniros his passengers , watchin their health,

en français :

se serait cool que KITT, dans certaines situations affiche les constantes vitales de ses passagers dans un coin du parebrise

[z00story]

Hey all... wow, lots of posts since last I checked! We've been busy. I'm expanding my team by 3 as of monday! Meaning there will be 4 compositors/motion graphics artists total working just on the H.U.D. So that should give you some indication as to the importance and gravity of that matter.

Great suggestions. I can't talk specifics - but a LOT of what you said is already there, and I am integrating some ideas I got from here. I will say that the scripts have been amazingly fun reads... With that, I will say that they are coming up with ideas for KITT to interact with the world that far exceed my imagination. So there's lots for me to do...

I wish I could tell you guys more, but after the show airs in Sept I will be able to talk more specifics.

Also, you guys made some interesting BSG connections - but still not THE ONE that I know BSG and KR fans like me are going to go nuts over! (and no, Galactica does not crash to earth right in front of KITT, lol!).

On a completely random side note (and bit of self promotion) for anyone in the Los Angeles area, a short film I directed called "The Outlaw Emmett Deemus" a while ago starring Larry Hankin (Billy Madison, Escape from Alcatraz), Edie McClurg (Bueller... Bueller), and Paul Willson (Cheers) will be screening at the Egyptian Theater this thursday the 7th at 8pm as the opening to the Hollyshorts Film Festival. There will be a lot of other great shorts starring Jessica Beil, Josh Brolin, and David Arquette... and I believe they will all be showing up to do a panel that I will also be a part of.

So come out if you can - tickets are only like 10 bucks (hollyshorts.com) and I can answer more questions in person.

And in a strange bout of coincidence, one of the other shorts (the one starring Jessica Biel) was directed by the first Assistant director of 2nd unit for Knight Rider. So that's two of us!

Have a fun weekend, I am off to see Eric Idle at the Hollywood Bowl.

Peace

Stepan

[pheonix_knight]

Have a fun weekend, I am off to see Eric Idle at the Hollywood Bowl.

A monty python fan???

[z00story]

I am indeed a python fan

[pheonix_knight]

I am indeed a python fan

some of their music stuff is fantastic...

oh ive just had a thought, maybe it could be the Knight Rider who says "NEEEE"