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Japan Says Yes To Mirrorless Cars (carscoops.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Last month, Japan became one of the first countries to allow vehicles to use cameras instead of mirrors. "Video mirrors" will no longer be reserved for concept cars. They will likely turn into a huge marketplace for tech businesses and suppliers now that the "Land of the Rising Sun" gave Japanese companies the green light by allowing mirrorless vehicles. While many would argue that glass mirrors work just fine, video mirrors do have some real-world advantages. They can reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency (Warning: source may be paywalled) while improving the looks of a vehicle in the process. In addition, they can capture a wide-angle view that can see blind spots, and they can improve visibility by digitally compensating for glare, darkness or even rainy weather. The first company to supply digital mirrors will be Ichikoh. Their first product will be an interior rear-view mirror named the Smart Rear View Mirror that will enter production on June 28th.

6 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. It's all fun and games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Until your mirror bluescreens on you....

    Say what you will about oldschool tech but a normal mirror is never going randomly cut out on you. I could see cameras as supplemental but never as an outright replacement.

    1. Re:It's all fun and games by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Or hacked:

      "What? Why's there a stripper in the right lane!? Not that it's a bad thing..."

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    2. Re:It's all fun and games by tomhath · · Score: 5, Insightful

      a normal mirror is never going randomly cut out on you.

      I've had a couple that did randomly cut out on me. While driving down the road the glass just fell off the driver's side mirror. Another time the interior mirror came unglued and dropped off the windshield.

  2. Re: backup! by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dude we aren't on your lawn....

    --
    People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
  3. Re:Planned obsolescence by Dorianny · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just more subtly planned obsolescence. While mirrors may wear out or break, it is simple enough to make a replacement. When these cameras wear out/break it is going to require a factory to make a replacement.

    I said the same thing when they replaced my trusty hand crank with them fancy electric starters that may wear out or break

  4. I'm all for advancement, but by Urinal+Pube · · Score: 5, Informative

    one of the downsides of rear screens is that your eye has to change its focal distance. With a mirror, your eye is focusing at a true distance of the objects behind you. With a screen, you have to adjust to the distance of the screen. It's minor, but it can fatigue your eyes, and you lose all depth perception. Hopefully the enhanced field of view will outweigh the shortcomings.