Wikitude have announced the first beta of Wikitude Drive, an augmented reality PND app that overlays directions and prompts onto a live view of the road ahead.  Available with both driving and walking directions, the beta is being launched to coincide with Google IO.

The system is based on Navteq mapping data, and Wikitude reckon it’s actually safer to use their live-view AR system than a regular sat-nav app.  That’s because, even when you’re looking at the smartphone display, you’re also seeing what’s happening in the road.  Alternatively there’s a standard 3D map layout, and both modes get voice direction prompts.

Wikitude will be making the Wikitude Drive beta available in the Android Market from 10am PST today, but it’ll only be available for the first 2,000 people to download it.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/11870382[/vimeo]