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GM Researching Windshields For Old Drivers
beuges writes "General Motors researchers are working on a high-tech windshield that users lasers and infra-red sensors to identify and enhance important objects for older drivers with vision problems. 'For example, during a foggy drive, a laser projects a blue line onto the windshield that follows the edge of the road. Or if infrared sensors detect a person or animal in the driver's path during a night drive, its outline is projected on the windshield to highlight its location.' And it's not only older drivers who will benefit: 'Some features would be helpful to drivers of all ages. If a driver is speeding, a pink box frames an approaching speed limit sign to draw the driver's attention.' The 65 and older population in the US will nearly double in about 20 years, meaning more people will be struggling to see the road like they used to."
Can they be programmed to keep those damn kids off your lawn? And will this research be passed along to the receiver when GM files for bankruptcy next week?
No mod points, no meta-moderating/Firehose/all the other free work Slashdot wants me to do.
When you approach a street hockey game, the Super Windshield will also highlight the puck with a blue line when it is being passed and a red line when somebody takes a shot on the net.
This could lead to starvation in some parts of the world. Many people in my area rely on roadkill to feed their family. If this windshield does what it promises to do, there will be a lot less meat on the side of the road.
You can find a prototype of the display at this link. It's also handy for identifying makes of motorcycles and correct sizes of biker clothing.
Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
I don't know about the rest of you, but a "pink box" by the side of the road would cause me to not just slow down, but stop and offer it a ride.
Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
So how long will it take for someone to invent an extension to this that identified b00bies, highlights them, measures them, photographs them, rates them and uploads them to the Internet?
You make a good point: I read somewhere that safety-enhancing features result in an increase in speed until the perceived level of risk is once again as it was before the safety features were implemented. This, of course, means that the more safety features a car has, the greater the risk towards other road users.
In that light, I firmly believe that instead of an airbag, cars should have a long, sharp spike mounted on the steering wheel (and pointed directly at the driver). I'm willing to bet that it would significantly reduce speeding...
Maybe they should do some research targeted at younger drivers too?
If a younger driver crashes into the car in front of them while checking out the babe in a car to the side,
side windows that substituted someone old and overweight might reduce accidents.
No doubt that feature would be a major dud on the showroom floor though...
I've been waiting for something like that for 20 years.
"Even for Slashdot, that was a very obscure reference!" - Anonymous Coward
A better use of GM's time would be to detect when a driver is old, then disable the engine and lock the brakes.
I thought the reason that Thunderbirds didn't have that problem was because they were marionettes?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057790/
If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
Not true. It would put us closer to the goal of an energy efficient vehicle. Instead they waste huge amount on "research" like this. The reason is simple; CEOs can sit back and make easy money, rather than having to put in any effort for a complex project, like that necessary to develop more fuel efficient cars. Congress will not help until it is too late. The rich will not help either, they have no incentive. We have basically gotten ourselves into a trap we cannot get out of. It is going to get worse, until the US economy collapses, taking most of the free world with it (I predict around 2020), and China will cease the opportunity, triggering World War III, and the end of all hopes for humanity. Everything in this line of thought is not only inevitable, but there is no way to stop any of it. Would anybody like to make a bet on this? I could use some money when the world comes to an end. Just make sure it is payed in Yen.
I just want it to tell me when my target is locked and other useful info.
Balderdash!
Furthermore, Cars tend not to jump unexpectedly out from the bushes.
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*Content of text in question: "cnt stop here bat cntry"