Filed under: Gadgets, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Safety, Humor
Vibering concept protects blind from those silent killers called hybrids
Click above for more pictures of the Vibering concept
Cars can be dangerous objects, there's no doubt about it. While the most obvious danger is definitely an accident while driving, there are other ways your car could kill you. Exhaust from gasoline vehicles is very dangerous, and diesel soot can get lodged on your brain, so we advise against its inhalation whenever possible. But don't let those environmentally friendly hybrids and electric cars fool you... they can be silent killers, too. There have been many ideas thrown around in an effort to make hybrid vehicles safer for blind people who may have a hard time hearing the stealthy vehicles approach. Some of these ideas are better than others. Take, for instance, the Vibering concept, which is able to sense approaching doom by listening for key sounds made by a car like the Prius or other hybrid model. When worn in conjunction with its companion watch, the Vibering listens and alerts its wearer whenever a vehicle may be coming and how far it is from making impending contact. We're not sure what technology it's using to "listen" for identifying sounds, but the idea is solid. Imagine a government mandate that required all hybrids to emit an inaudible sound that could be detected by seeing eye dogs or a device worn on the wrist.
Gallery: Vibering Concept
[Source: Yanko Design via Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
n_r_child 7:43PM (6/06/2008)
Good idea, but it seems that the cause of the problem (the hybrid) should also bear the burden of the solution- what if the batteries of the watch die? And what about animals (pets and wildlife) that won't be able to hear the vehicles, either? Deer are already seemingly suicidal; I would hate to see those accident rates go up.
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Fooman 8:11PM (6/06/2008)
Because if you are blind you need a watch...
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MUSASHI66 8:38PM (6/06/2008)
You don't need to tell time if you are blind? Granted, this one is digital, but my blind history teacher had a watch where the top would lift, and he could feel where the hands were.
dwightB 9:38PM (6/06/2008)
Haha, EXACTLY what I thought when I saw this!
Gerald 8:39AM (6/07/2008)
Radioshack has a wide selection of talking watches. So I imagine blind people do need watches.
davido 8:21PM (6/06/2008)
While I understand the concern for the blind when it comes to the silence of hybrid and electric vehicles, this isn't really a new problem. There are tens of millions of bicycles in the world as well as electrically powered light rail systems. How are the blind coping with those?
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Ohso Clutch 9:38PM (6/06/2008)
I laughed and I feel horrible about it.
dwightB 9:40PM (6/06/2008)
Or maybe people can keep their asses out of the street....?
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Derek 10:54PM (6/06/2008)
Because blind people don't deserve to leave the block that they live on, for sure.
Cary 4:51AM (6/13/2008)
Once in the street; they feel the vibration, then what? How do they know which way to run? [cut to family guy esque cut scene: runs in circles, still gets hit]. haha, I'm sorry I feel terrible.
psarhjinian 6:02PM (6/07/2008)
I would think that, if you're blind and able to walk freely about without issue, your hearing is sufficient to pick up the tire noise of an electric vehicle at least as well as this little piece of snake-oil.
Even my music- and datacenter-damaged hearing can pick up a four rolling car tires.
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Dan 10:56AM (6/09/2008)
I've crossed the street plenty of times with hybrids coming at me... and I could hear clearly every single one of them. They are not perfectly silent killers like they are made out to be.
Honestly, unless they are laying on the gas, most new regular cars are just as silent as a hybrid cars going by. They both have vibrant tire noise and distinctive body sounds.
What's next? Making Lexus's have similar safety garbage now that their lastest engines have almost an inaudible idle???
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