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The older people get, the harder it is to drive -- reflexes slow, eyesight goes, and one's level of awareness drops as the years pass. These unfortunate realities of aging can make driving a potentially lethal proposition for those getting on in years (not to mention the drivers around them).
Governments, however, are not about to start confiscating drivers licenses when people are old enough to collect social security, so the challenge becomes how to minimize the danger involved with putting those in their golden years on the road.
Toyota is teaming up with Professor Ryuta Kawashima, who worked for Nintendo to develop the DS hit 'Brain Training,' which uses simple and fun puzzles to sharpen the mind and tell you how old your brain is. Toyota and Dr. Kawashima are working on a system that will monitor the moves of aging drivers and help them avoid dangerous behaviors. The ideas currently on the drawing board are an automatic braking system that can curb unnecessary accelerating, a navigation system (duh) and climate controls that will help keep the driver alert and comfortable.
"Ultimately, we hope to develop cars that stimulate brain activity so that driving itself becomes a form of brain training," Dr. Kawashima says. Toyota and the professor hope to have a basic form of the system ready for deployment within five years. Toyota's system isn't the only game in town, though, that is looking to save some lives by keeping drivers alert, Nissan has been working on its Intelligent Transportation System for some time now.
Nintendo has cornered the market on electronics marketed to the elderly at this point. 'Brain Training' and the 'Brain Age' series on the handheld DS and 'Wii Sports' and 'Wii Fitness' have also proven to be huge hits with older consumers looking to dull the effects of aging.
From Daily Mail
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Comments
225
Subscribe to commentsLindaJan 1st 2008 5:14PM
I think that it doesn't matter what your age...it all comes down to being a safe and defensive driver. I always try to allow a 'safe zone' around my vehicle. This includes leaving enough 'car lengths' between me and the vehicle I'm following. It annoys me when people pass me and pull into that safe zone. I have to back off that vehicle to get my 'safe zone' back. When you are traveling 70 mph (the legal speed limit) and don't allow enough distance for a sudden stop, you are just asking to be involved in an accident. So many simple 'driving rules' that no one seems to follow anymore.
BTW we have a 2007 Toyota Avalon that has laser cruise on it...it's great. Automatically slows you down when the car in front of you is going slower than you are. It resumes your cruise speed when you pull out to pass the slower car. Even has an alarm when someone gets too close to you ( as happens sometimes when people cut you off by pulling in front of you). The alarm alerts you to BRAKE if you aren't already.
So this particular 'bell and whistle' works great. Also, most of the GPS systems won't allow you to program them while you are moving. You have to be at a complete stop, so you aren't distracted from your driving. Too bad some people don't have the common sense to avoid other things that distract them while driving. I pull over and stop to take cell phone calls or just let them leave a message if pulling over isn't legal or safe.
Hopefully as we age, we will know when it is time to give up our driving priveleges or we will have loved ones that see that we do. Testing yearly to renew is probably a good idea.
BeffJan 2nd 2008 12:22AM
WOW!!! Christie, I will challenge you to a road race anytime anywhere. I am 70 and drive a VERY FAST Corvette. But, you probably wouldn't know how to spell it let alone drive it. It takes brains and evidently yours are lacking when you make statements about "ELDERLY" You are very rude and guess what we "ELDERLY" generally have more money and brains than you do.
KARENJan 1st 2008 6:51PM
ACTUALLY , ITS THE YOUNG , IDIOT KIDS ON THE ROAD THAT SCARE ME ....THEY ARE INEXPERIENCED & ARE TRYING TO SHOW OFF & THEY DO HAVE THE MOST ACCIDENTS ...THEY ALSO TAILGATE & DONT USE BLINKERS, OR MANNERS ....WOW., PARENTS OF TEENS : TEACH YOUR KIDS SOME MANNERS WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING ...THE BLINKERS ARE THERE FOR A REASON.... CUTTING PEOPLE OFF IS NOT "COOL", AND SPEEDING IS DANGEROUS....TALK TO YOUR KIDS ....JESUS CHRIST !!!!!!
AndreaJan 1st 2008 9:26PM
Usually I'm more even-tempered than this, but......
FLOOR IT, CHRISTIE! Why wait until you're old? Surely there's a cliff or a bridge abuttment that you can use. Seize the day, girl! You don't want to become.......OLD!
Now if someone can invent an automobile that can raise the intelligence of the driver, now THAT would be something!
That's not to say that all drivers are stupid, don't get me wrong. The technology should be able so sense the relative intelligence of the driver and take appropriate action.
I think there would be quite a few cars out there driving themselves.
Let's respect our elders. They've been around longer than we have and they deserve it.
Peace, all.
PattiJan 2nd 2008 8:10PM
To jason who said:
"Where in the article did it say that Nintendo had a part of this? Nowhere, because they didn't. Dr. Kawashima doesn't work for Nintendo, he worked with them. Stop making misleading headlines."
Quote from the article:
"Toyota is teaming up with Professor Ryuta Kawashima, who worked for Nintendo to develop the DS hit 'Brain Training,' which uses simple and fun puzzles to sharpen the mind and tell you how old your brain is."
My question to you:
What part of "Ryuta Kawashima, who worked FOR Nintendo" don't you understand?