Did you ever read George Orwell’s 1984? If so, you probably look at headlines like this and immediately think of Big Brother (and I don’t mean the CBS reality show). But in an effort to make the roads safer for everybody, engineers are working on ways to make cars take over some of the responsibilities of driving.
Right now, newer cars will already tell you things like when they need an oil change or some other service. But can you imagine your car telling you when you should pull over and get some sleep? Or how about your car telling you to get something to eat?
At MIT, engineers are working on technology that automakers can use in cars to monitor the driver. They built a prototype – the Agelab’s Aware Car – that monitors the car’s statistics as well as the driver’s. Sensors are mounted in the dashboard to monitor the driver’s breathing rate, heart rate, sugar levels and even blood pressure. When these levels seem askew, the car warns you that you should do something about it before you lose your concentration and risk getting into an accident.
Another interesting thing about this concept is that the Department of Transportation is contributing to the project. With more and more aging drivers on the road, we can use technology like this to protect everybody on the highways and side streets.
If this type of thing scares you, don’t worry. You won’t find it anywhere near your local Pontiac dealer for several more years. Visit one today before the cars of the future arrive and nag you about your driving habits.
