Comments on: Can the blind hear hybrid cars? http://billso.com/2008/06/06/can-the-blind-hear-hybrid-cars/ Bill Sodeman writes about management, mobile computing and information systems Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:27:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=7805 hourly 1 By: noroadzone http://billso.com/2008/06/06/can-the-blind-hear-hybrid-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1895 noroadzone Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:04:17 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1707#comment-1895 Hybrid cars could give others a peaceful ride but it gives the disabled (esp. the blind) a hard time whenever a hybrid is approaching them... a device for the blind is basically a great idea for them... Hybrid cars could give others a peaceful ride but it gives the disabled (esp. the blind) a hard time whenever a hybrid is approaching them… a device for the blind is basically a great idea for them…

]]> By: noroadzone http://billso.com/2008/06/06/can-the-blind-hear-hybrid-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 noroadzone Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:04:17 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1707#comment-1504 Hybrid cars could give others a peaceful ride but it gives the disabled (esp. the blind) a hard time whenever a hybrid is approaching them... a device for the blind is basically a great idea for them... Hybrid cars could give others a peaceful ride but it gives the disabled (esp. the blind) a hard time whenever a hybrid is approaching them… a device for the blind is basically a great idea for them…

]]> By: Daniel Peters http://billso.com/2008/06/06/can-the-blind-hear-hybrid-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-1294 Daniel Peters Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:16:44 +0000 http://billso.com/?p=1707#comment-1294 I've always thought that making silent cars emit fake noise was a weird solution to this problem. While entirely infeasible probably due to economic concerns, i would prefer a high-tech gizmo to address the issue. Silent hybrid/electric cars will need a standardized method of broadcasting some sort of signal (perhaps with a wi-fi or wi-max device? cars are getting internet ready, it seems: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/atx-proposes-car-tdl-for-expected-influx-of-in-car-internet-use/" rel="nofollow">link</a>). People who are in need of detecting silent cars sans vision will get small devices that detect these broadcasts, and can then somehow alert the user (verbally, or maybe through some advanced haptic response; positional vibrations to alert the user from which direction the vehicle is approaching?) Simple systems could just make a buzzing noise whenever a car enters a given proximity, but i could see them getting more advanced (advanced algorithms that only go off if a car will intersect with the user's sphere of influence. I suppose that's a bit much to ask for in hopes of eventually having quieter streets... I live on the corner of Punchbowl and Vineyard, and I've got to say that loud "coffee-can muffler" cars and Harley's are WAY worse than the ambulances from Queens Medical Center. I’ve always thought that making silent cars emit fake noise was a weird solution to this problem.

While entirely infeasible probably due to economic concerns, i would prefer a high-tech gizmo to address the issue.

Silent hybrid/electric cars will need a standardized method of broadcasting some sort of signal (perhaps with a wi-fi or wi-max device? cars are getting internet ready, it seems: link).

People who are in need of detecting silent cars sans vision will get small devices that detect these broadcasts, and can then somehow alert the user (verbally, or maybe through some advanced haptic response; positional vibrations to alert the user from which direction the vehicle is approaching?) Simple systems could just make a buzzing noise whenever a car enters a given proximity, but i could see them getting more advanced (advanced algorithms that only go off if a car will intersect with the user’s sphere of influence.

I suppose that’s a bit much to ask for in hopes of eventually having quieter streets… I live on the corner of Punchbowl and Vineyard, and I’ve got to say that loud “coffee-can muffler” cars and Harley’s are WAY worse than the ambulances from Queens Medical Center.

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