As crazy as this may sound, it is now close to becoming a reality. Because we are blessed with so many other senses other than vision, it is possible to give cues to blind drivers in how to react to specific situations when they are behind the wheel. The car for the blind will do this by using an array of vibrating and voice warnings that are triggered by the reaction of sensors (made up of lasers). The driver will wear a vest and gloves that will vibrate depending on various factors. The steering wheel will also vibrate. The driver will be able to interact with the car via voice commands and touch.
Whilst it may be easy to dismiss the idea as nothing short of insanity, the vehicle itself is the result of a lot of research. Because humans do not specifically rely on a single sense to drive, it is fair to assume that someone who is blind is not at a massive disadvantage in regards to operating a vehicle. Nissan has been developing systems that will force the user to slow down and even apply the brake if a driver is too close to a vehicle in front of them. It is the conglomeration of technology such as this as well as others that has made the feat possible.
Whilst an advanced prototype is still in development a very basic prototype has been developed in the form of a beach buggy. The beach buggy used a wide variety of aids to help a blind person test the vehicle with a great deal of success. The next prototype (much more advanced than the buggy) is to be tested in January, 2011. Instead of a beach buggy, it will be a Ford Escape. A large vehicle that is quite common to give the broadest results possible
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