By Jennifer Hooker, IEN Staff
July 24, 2008—General Motors (GM) has recently entered some hot water with increasing fuel prices and benefit cutbacks from their retirees, but the hurting automaker is still researching ways to improve vehicle safety with a windshield that could help aging drivers see more clearly.
According to the Associated Press (AP), GM is developing a windshield that uses infrared sensors, lasers, and a camera to spotlight road conditions. The windshield features a transparent coating that lights up when hit by an ultraviolet light. So, if an elderly person decides to take a drive during a foggy morning, the edge of the road would be outlined by a blue laser line.
Infrared sensors could also project outlines of pedestrians or animals if they are in the driving path on the windshield during late night drives. The windshield system will be able to monitor if a driver is speeding and bring it to their attention by framing speed limit signs in a pink box. GM researcher, Thomas Seder said that they are working on connecting the windshield system with GPS systems so that the final destinations can be pointed out upon arrival.
According to the AP, the windshield will not look like a head-up display, typically found in F-16 fighter jets, but will only point out a few object that are already in the driver’s field of vision. Still, Seder said that skeptics are concerned that information splashed across the windshield will be too distracting. We happen to think it’s a valid concern, but with the increased presence of technology in vehicles, it shouldn’t get in the way any more than TVs, built-in computers, and cell phones.
Unlike other car technology, GM is gearing its high-tech wind shield toward senior citizens. As the Baby Boomer generation hits 65, the US Census Bureau expects the 65-plus population to increase from 12.4 % to 20% or 71.5 million people by 2030. However, by that time gas prices will probably be hitting $10 a gallon so seniors won’t be able to afford getting behind the wheels or their GM gas guzzlers.
(Photos courtesy of Associated Press and Wikipedia)