Computer Will Discourage Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can be dangerous, but how do you stop a driver from fiddling with the stereo? How do you police someone checking his or her hair in the rearview mirror?

Toshiba thinks it might have an answer. The company has built a driving computer that literally watches to see how attentive you are to the road. The system uses a dashboard-mounted camera to monitor your pupils and facial orientation while driving. It looks at nine predetermined sectors of your vision, so if you start paying more attention to the A/C than the road, it will give you a gentle audio warning.

Initially, this sounds kind of, well, obnoxious, but the camera also tracks blinking patterns to make sure drivers aren’t falling asleep — a greater safety concern than most people imagine. The system can also take commands via facial expression. For instance, a certain twitch could turn on your windshield wipers.

As bizarre as this technology sounds, Toshiba has said that it plans to commercialize it. Would you want a computer watching you for driving distractions? Let us know in the comments.

Toshiba's Automotive System Keeps Eye on Driver's Face (Tech-on via Gizmodo)

Comments

I have an idea! Why don't people learn how to drive and know where they are going instead of just blinkly following GPS instructions.

Erm... maybe because sometimes its hard to memorize where you are going when you've never actually been to your destination? Like, let's say...a cross country road trip?
Jeez, I hate luddites!

True but you can look at an actual map first to get a better idea of your final destination than blindly following a series of left and right turns from a gps. For example you're in New York NY and you want to go to Hollywood CA. Enter in Hollywood in your GPS and let it guide you to your destination and you might end up in Hollywood FL if you didn't check a map first. I have witnessed this happen many times obviously not to that extreme. I am not against gps or computers but I am against electronic babysitters.

wouldn't buy the car. there is enough things watching people

Let's face it. Everyone has different levels of driving ability. Also, no-one ever admits to their own poor driving skills. It's always "the other driver".

A system like Toshiba's can only serve to help protect the innocent folks who are hurt by bad drivers. Who can argue that?

I always feel like somebody's watchin' me.

no that's just the money you could be saving with G****

It would be annoying and strange to hear a voice say "[your name] you look tired, you may want to exit the road at the nearest safest point and rest. There is one rest area in five miles exit 123, there are four hotels within 10 miles blah blah blah." On the other hand some of these fetures could be quite useful like hands free commands. Body/ facial motions that trigger actions could be a helpful tool to the disabled without adding much extra cost to their vehicles. If given a choice I'd take talking to the car over twiching my face to change the radio station.

Will this system tell people to stop talking on their cell phones and to put both hands on the wheel? If so, I am all for it!

It is fact that no one admits its poor driving skills and always blame others............
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Could be interesting. Helpful to those worried about sleep to be sure. I just hope this sort of thing never gets forced on car owners. That'd kinda suck...(actually it'd really suck)