Toyota and Nintendo Team Up for "Elderly-Friendly" Car

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
Related links:



Reader Comments (Page 5 of 12)
thewalrus574 said 10:16AM on 12-27-2007
Auto makers have been working on these systems for years. The only difference here is the target market.
Auto makers are trying to get the car to have some "horse sense" without taking away your control. It's hard to do, but it's coming soon to a car near you!
Reply
Jando321 said 10:19AM on 12-27-2007
I'll feel safer when disabling devices are installed in cars and are activated when someone tries to drive while under the influence, no matter what their age. This would lower insurance rates as well.
Reply
Rozee said 10:19AM on 12-27-2007
In all honesty I feel that after the age of 75 all seniors should give up driving. But, since that isn't the answer for everyone I think a "Elderly-Friendly" Car would be the next answer.
Reply
Corrie said 10:29AM on 12-27-2007
What we really need is a car like in the Will Smith movie, I Robot! It drove itself. I am 37 and would buy that car in a hot second. I would read, write, or just plain think about stuff rather than drive. Elderly, teenage, or whatever. Anyone can use that...except control freaks. They may have a problem.
Reply
Tommy D said 10:39AM on 12-27-2007
It is the younger folks texting and and the middle aged ones yacking on the cell phone that scare me. They think they are invincible, life will teach them otherwise.
Reply
steve said 10:45AM on 12-27-2007
this article is symtomatic of this country and the meddling nature of of government,media, & its self-obsorbed citizens. I am going to mind my own business, be EXTRA courteous, and spend my time trying to enjoy my life...The senoirs have much to teach you..perhaps its time you learn.....sorry
Reply
LynnB said 10:48AM on 12-27-2007
Bob Burnett said: "My answer to this ad is plain and simple, I'm an American, and I buy only American cars,"
Tell us, Bob, WHICH American cars are made in America? Many are made in Mexico, Canada, and even Australia.
And more Toyota's are made in America than are made in Japan, and in fact we export Camry's and possible others TO Japan!!!
Then figure out how many AMERICAN's are employed by those "foreign" auto makers...how many AMERICAN truck drivers deliver new American Made Toyota's to AMERICAN owned dealerships. How many AMERICAN's earn their living by selling and servicing those "foreign" cars?
Then again, look at how many RECALLS there are of AMERICAN cars....I wouldn't own a Ford if they gave me one. I can't afFORD the time to continually return it to the dealer to be fixed.
Reply
EeyoreBfly said 10:47AM on 12-27-2007
While I like the idea of making the road safer for elderly drivers, I worry that this will give older drivers a false sense of security and will only work to encourage them to continue driving long after it is no longer safe to do so. What we really need are tougher screening procedures for licenses- at all ages.
Reply
pat shea said 11:11AM on 12-27-2007
I will soon be 65, not your typical senior, I am very active, still have good reflexes and have a sound mind. Even though that is all true, I believe strongly, every driver of any age, should have to take some sort of retest for their drivers license at intervals of 5 years or so. There are some elderly drivers who drive too slow for the amount of traffic on todays roads, but there are many more drivers who think they must get to their destinations yesterday. Everyone should gain some patience and RESPECT for others on the road.
Reply
garryglndl said 11:08AM on 12-27-2007
New Vehicle! No way, I bought a new P/U in 91. Recently had it painted,new ball joints, brakes an Overdrive unit.
With the annual fees for a new vehicle plus the increased initial cost, I decided I didn't need to support the lavish income of the UAW.
Plus my old truck looks and runs like new and it's paid for years ago.
Reply
Megan W said 11:10AM on 12-27-2007
I think it is ironic that older people like to blame teenagers for reckless driving, and think the driving age should be raised. Were these people not teenagers once, and excited to get their license?! Teenagers are NOT the problem. My great aunt, who is 85 yrs old, has nueropathy in her legs and now has it in her arms. SHE DRIVES!!!! She drives with her left and right foot, but can only control lifting her foot, not setting it down. You cannot tell me that this car will work for her. I think the elderly are the worst drivers and put us all at risk. It is harsh to take their driving privileges away, but something needs to be done. I agree that they should have to retake the test once they reach a certain age.
Reply
Parissa said 11:18AM on 12-27-2007
How about creating something for 'new' drivers ... teenagers who don't have the brain capacity of a gnat ~ who seem to think 'speed' and 'power' make them adult! I can't speak to statistics, but the majority of accidents on this roadways so far this winter have NOT been seniors ... they've been young men and women ranging in age from their teens to their mid 30's! NONE of these 'more able bodied drivers' observing that just possibly snow and ice on the roadways makes driving more dangerous and that they just might have to SLOW DOWN! Instead of creating a 'new' car for seniors, how about considering legislation to raise the driving age to about 35!? Sounds good to me since I'm 63 and have NEVER caused or even been in an accident with another driver! Ever!
Reply
LynnB said 11:19AM on 12-27-2007
Here's a link to an interesting article comparing "American" cars to "Foreign" cars.
http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2006/09/24/made_in_america_hard_to_tell/
Reply
Lauren said 11:20AM on 12-27-2007
Christie, wait till mommy finds out you were on her computer again..time out!! young lady
Reply
JoJo said 11:35AM on 12-27-2007
This car is to alert "older folks" to dangerous activities? I've seen some young drivers doing some seriously stupid crap on the road too...unfortunately, the state I currently live in (TN) driving school/driver's ed. is NOT a requirement, and it shows. Very few people know and understand the right of way, and too many of these idiots grow up to be OLD idiots on the road.
So maybe instead of focusing on designing cars for older people that probably started out being crappy drivers to begin with, why not make driving school a requirement, more difficult to get a driver's license? Here in TN, my son (I sent him to driving school) they only have to drive around ONE rural block. One left turn and four right turns. BIG challenge.
Reply
Don said 11:33AM on 12-27-2007
Actually, I would prefer that car companies install "governors" on cars so a parent can limit the speed his inexperienced teenage driver can go.
Reply
lou said 11:36AM on 12-27-2007
Gezzers complain about drivers zipping past them on the road....you bet we are, we are trying to get the hell away from you guys because you drive like crap.
Reply
lou said 11:39AM on 12-27-2007
Sure we speed by you geezers, you drive like crap, we're trying to get away from you.
Reply
wmpotter399 said 2:18PM on 12-27-2007
I am tired of this garbage. WAY TOO MUCH political correctness in this country. Last time I checked, driving is a privilege, not a right. If you cant drive till you are a certain age, then the privilege should be take away at some point. Even now, when a teenager gets a license, it is probationary at first. No night driving, only a certain amount of passengers. Why is it not right to mandate yearly testing for seniors? Make sure that they are still able to drive. But no politician is willing to make a statement like that because they are all cowards. Everyone needs to be politically correct. I am getting tired of this political correctness crap. And thats what it is ... its crap. Its not right to say Merry Christmas anymore???? Are you kidding me? I am tired of the easily offended making life worse for the rest of us. Grow a thicker skin and shut the hell up. If you don't like the conversation, walk away. If you don't like whats on the radio or on the television, change the damn station. If its there, its because some of us want it there. You dont have to watch, and you dont have to listen.
As for the "Computerized Braking System," what happens when that fails. Like every other system in a car, it will fail eventually. What happens to the family driving behind that car on the interstate when the brakes lock up at 65 MPH? They die, because some jackass wanted someone who has lost the ability to drive on their own, to still be able to drive, in the interest of political correctness. ITS BULL AND YOU ALL KNOW IT. Too many people are just too damn scared to say it.
Reply
web jones said 11:54AM on 12-27-2007
Christie is an idiot. It is no longer a rarity to live past 100. My grandfather is 105, still very active. He put a roof on his house by himself at age 96. He uses a rotary mower to cut his grass and grows a garden. I dare say that Christie has ever put out that much effort. In fact, folks like Christie make me glad I did not reproduce. I would be embarrassed to be her mother.
Reply