LCD side mirors: how, what, where?

[lemansfanatic]

I am trying to build an open wheel cockpit and I would like to know how people utilize side view mirors into their cockpits. Do I need eyefinity to run these? Is there a certain program needed to scale them to each side? What games utilize this option, what types of LCDs do people use and where do you find them? I appologize if there is already a thread about this.

 

[the_greeze]

Although I can't help, this sounds like a really cool project Any chance of some photos or work-in-progress updates? I'm sure many here would be interested. 👍

 

[lemansfanatic]

I will cetainly. I am still in the brainstorming process as of now, I am sure this will be a long way off. Trying to conceptualize my plan at the moment.

 

[Jav]

Would definitely love to see this too!
Maybe a screen like this?
http://www.z1simwheel.com/displays/index.cfm

 

[bermudakid]

How do people run triple screen set ups with different size monitors on the outside but the picture is still the correct scale as the big center.

In theory you would only need a screen big enough to cover the mirrors? I've seen it before just no idea where.

 

[fatkrakr]

I think the side monitors would need a zoom function if there different sizes. Not 100% on that though, but I think thats what I read somewhere.

 

[LogiForce]

I think you want to replace where the mirrors go with screens, right? If so then it will not work easily.

Eyefinity will not work due to moving mirrors on screen as the whole car moves for the sake of immersion. And even if it would work then there is no way you can zoom into a specific area of the screen (this would most likely have to be done by a feature in the LCD screen, as eyefinity does not support such as far as I know).

If you want the pure mirror projection on an LCD screen then you will most likely run into competibikity issues, because as far as I know there is no game that supports outputting mirrors to a specific screen nor are competible with such thing via any form of (to be made) plugin,

 

[Coxis]

The only sim I know for a fact that could make this work is LFS, however you would need 3 licenses and (possibly) three computers. One is needed for the regular screen and one for each mirror.

While I admire your passion OP, I've been where you are and unfortunately current technology does not allow for such a cool project.

 

[Mayaman]

There is a video on YouTube doing exactly this. Can't find it. It's something like my f1 with frex

 

[museumsteve]

I love the idea but dont see how it can be done. I've not come across a PC game that can even output a rear view mirror..which is very disappointing as Forza has done it for years

 

[bermudakid]

Ok I dont think any current games does a separate screen for rear views( cept for F1 Championship edition for PS3 could use a PSP for Rearview) , but i though i saw someone make a separate screen that could use rear view cameras before. Like this

Also for the side screens HoiHman here on GTP uses samsung screens that have a zoom function. It works perfectly.

 

[museumsteve]

Ok I dont think any current games does a separate screen for rear views( cept for F1 Championship edition for PS3 could use a PSP for Rearview) , but i though i saw someone make a separate screen that could use rear view cameras before. Like this

Also for the side screens HoiHman here on GTP uses samsung screens that have a zoom function. It works perfectly.

I dont really understand what you're saying :s

The rear view cameras you're talking about, is that being used in a game? I dont see how it can work as you need to press a button for rear view and the main screen would change view also..

and HoiHman's side screens..are they being used for wing mirrors?

 

[bermudakid]

^ The video Mayaman said he saw I know I have seen it too. That picture is from the Audi R18 but thats what the OP wants, but the only game that I can recall doing that is F1 Championship edition and the video I saw at some point online.

For the triple screen im saying you could have significantly smaller screens and zoom them in on the mirror portion.

 

[Mayaman]

Yeah, there is definite a dude on YouTube who aimed his projector just right and got each rear view mirror on a tiny projection screen mounted on a real mirror. In other words he projected the image at basically 1:1 so the games mirrors were projected onto the tiny projection screens he taped to real mirrors. It's doable for sure.

 

[lemansfanatic]

So I am gathering this task is an impossibility for now. Such a shame game devs cant devote a small amount of gaming power to a low res image that could be sent to a seperate small LCD screen... Hmm, maybe my next option is to see if there is a way to project backwards the rear facing image at the same time via another computer using crossfire and simply use REAL side mirors reflecting the image on the wall from behind me. I dont really want to do it that way if I can avoid it.

 

[bermudakid]

Im going to keep searching, I know I've seen it.
Whats wrong with the rearview if you drive with the cockpit view?

 

[lemansfanatic]

Nothing, just want real mirors to add a realistic FOV to a cockpit. Wouldnt it be cool to actually have mirors with cars in them, rather than just on a screen?

 

[Mayaman]

Guys, if you project over your head like Remco from the ISR forum, you can project the in game mirrors onto your real mirrors. Won't work if you're using LCD however, projection only for now.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Yeah, thats the compromise I was refering to, instead of using screens for mirors, using actual mirors. It just takes up a lot more space behind you and you have to have another projector. Would be better to just use two cheap LCD screens instead but we are not there yet...
Shame, it just seems like it would be so easy for a game developer to utilize existing technology through eyefinity enabled video cards. They would simply include coding to enable eyefinity cards to instead of left/middle/right screens, have the option to switch view to normal middle screen flanked by to side mirror views. know any modders that need a challenge?

 

[Mayaman]

Lol no, I mean using mirrors and then covering the mirror with projection material. Line up projector and presto mirrors.

 

[museumsteve]

Makes me think more about trying to find a solution at least for a rear view mirror screen (like Forza) 💡

 

[LogiForce]

Lol no, I mean using mirrors and then covering the mirror with projection material. Line up projector and presto mirrors.

Projectors will not work either unless cockpit motion is switched of. Plus every car has its mirrors at a different place, so you would have to realign your projectors constantly. Which someone would do a couple of times but gets annoying fast, thus the projectors will stay off and money is basically wasted.

 

[sesselpupser]

Ok, I haven't read this thread yet and I don't have much time as I'm on a break so I apologise if this has been suggested, but what if you had a set of real mirrors and had a projection of the cockpit behind the driver projected backwards from where you face? That way you look in the mirrors to see behind you, with the added benefit of actually being able to see things. In rFactor some cars' mirrors are angled in such a way that even if you adjust the seat to the highest or lowest possible position you still can't see anything useful.

 

[LogiForce]

Ok, I haven't read this thread yet and I don't have much time as I'm on a break so I apologise if this has been suggested, but what if you had a set of real mirrors and had a projection of the cockpit behind the driver projected backwards from where you face? That way you look in the mirrors to see behind you, with the added benefit of actually being able to see things. In rFactor some cars' mirrors are angled in such a way that even if you adjust the seat to the highest or lowest possible position you still can't see anything useful.

Would it not be better to use the "rear view" camera for this then, rather then an "in cockpit rear view"?

 

[museumsteve]

Would it not be better to use the "rear view" camera for this then, rather then an "in cockpit rear view"?

I dont see how you can as you need to press a button to activate rear view.
However, I saw an article where someone was talking about Codies racers and using SoftTH to map out the rear view screen onto an LCD using the rear view co-ordinates..

 

[Mayaman]

Projectors will not work either unless cockpit motion is switched of. Plus every car has its mirrors at a different place, so you would have to realign your projectors constantly. Which someone would do a couple of times but gets annoying fast, thus the projectors will stay off and money is basically wasted.

Yeah I know, I'm just stating that because it looks like the guy from YouTube only drives a single formula1 car and has no motion. But yeah, motion would destroy this plan.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Plus.to get the angle right for that to work you would see the shadows on your screen from the mirrors which would take away the realism. Anyways, I think this is the video you are refering to:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=ZvJLf1F0dCk

However, I saw an article where someone was talking about Codies racers and using SoftTH to map out the rear view screen onto an LCD using the rear view co-ordinates..

This is exactly what we need

 

[museumsteve]

This is exactly what we need

Here's a link anyway..

 

[sesselpupser]

Would it not be better to use the "rear view" camera for this then, rather then an "in cockpit rear view"?

Well if you just use a rear view that doesn't draw the cockpit you won't see the interior of the cockpit in the mirrors like you would in real life. But of course the problem is getting the game to show a front and rear view at the same time, so yeah.

 

[LogiForce]

Well if you just use a rear view that doesn't draw the cockpit you won't see the interior of the cockpit in the mirrors like you would in real life. But of course the problem is getting the game to show a front and rear view at the same time, so yeah.

You see the cockpit of your car in your side mirrors? Do I have them setup that oddly... I wonder. I only see a tiny bit of the rear of the car. Rear window and fender.
But let us not mistake the rear view mirror with the side mirrors. The rear view mirror would indeed show you the cockpit. Mainly the window in the back with some of the framework around it.