Automakers go to great lengths to make riding in their cars comfortable. But if Yale University researchers have their way, cars will introduce a bit of discomfort to warn you of impending danger.
John Morrell, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, fitted a car seat with small cams and vibrating motors to provide a tactile warning when something is about to go horribly wrong. The technology could be especially helpful for alerting drivers about vehicles in their blind spot.
Yes, many modern cars have blind-spot warning signals in the mirror or dashboard. But Morrell says they aren't effective because our visual senses already are overwhelmed. What's more, the signal is in front of you and the threat is behind you. That increases the time needed to process and respond to the situation, increasing reaction time, Morrell told IEEE Spectrum. Vibro-seat tells you where the threat is.
Morrell says the goal is a "renaissance user interface using the mind and body to the fullest."
He's made a test rig with a steering wheel, pedals and a computer running an open-source sim called "The Open Racing Car Simulator." The seat uses 20 cellphone-motor tactors arranged in a grid. When a car approaches, the middle of the seat vibrates. The vibes get stronger as the car gets closer, and cams on either side gently press the driver's back to indicate its location on the left or right.
Test results show "vibrotactile feedback" improved drivers’ performance compared to the feedback received from a mirror alone.
Via IEEE Spectrum
Photo: Bob B. Brown / Flickr
