Slashdot Mirror
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.
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?
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
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"