Prototype Vehicle For the Blind 238
An anonymous reader writes "A student team from Virginia Tech Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory have created a vehicle which allows the blind to drive. The vehicle uses a laser range finder to determine distances and alerts the driver through voice commands and vibration. Tomorrow [Friday] morning, the vehicle will have its first public test drive at the University of Maryland. At last, Braille on drive-up ATMs may finally be vindicated."
first to say (Score:5, Funny)
I didn't see this one coming.
What, what? (Score:5, Funny)
I see what you did there (Score:1, Funny)
I see what you did there.
Even the blind... (Score:5, Funny)
All good, but... (Score:5, Funny)
...the driver had better concentrate on the guidance system and not be distracted by any scent of a woman.
Blind people are already driving.... (Score:5, Funny)
....in my neighbourhood. That and/or terminally stupid. What else would you call not stopping for a red light at a busy intersection?
Re:Blind people are already driving.... (Score:5, Funny)
natural selection - making an attempt.
Infrastructure (Score:2, Funny)
So now we can all stop asking why the drive up ATM's have braille and audio out! Now that's planning ahead!
Only testing? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Even the blind... (Score:5, Funny)
Even the blind can see that this is a bad idea.
No, they can't.
Nothing new (Score:2, Funny)
SUVs have been around for years.
but (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What, what? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Braille ATMs (Score:2, Funny)
Drive up ATMs??? My god you Americans are lazy.
Yeah... what's next? Drive through gyms?
Re:first to say (Score:2, Funny)
> Braille on drive-up ATMs may finally be vindicated.
The above had me laughing quite a bit... ;-)
Re:The reason for braille on drive-up ATMs (Score:2, Funny)
Virginia Tech? (Score:4, Funny)
Weren't they supposed to develop a gun for blind shooters first?
Re:What, what? (Score:3, Funny)
I swear, officer, I didn't see him.
Next idea (Score:5, Funny)
They already have these. (Score:1, Funny)
I thought we already had these, clustered in training centers around the nation.
Called 'bumper cars.'
Objects in the rear view mirror... (Score:5, Funny)
may be closer than they feel.
Re:smoke and mirrors... (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry! We have recently invented a vehicle that allows you to drive without sight!
Re:smoke and mirrors... (Score:3, Funny)
All the street signs can be encoded in braille in the reflective dots between the lanes. They can just open the door and run their fingers on the ground while they drive.
Maybe it will help them to stay in their lane too.