Jalopnik: sleeping

Anti-Sleep Driving Alarm Shuns Tilted Heads

Travis Hudson — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:40:00 EDT

There's been some pretty high-tech solutions to the on-going problem of sleeping drivers, but this device tries to simply the process. The Anti-Sleep Driving Alarm is an alarm worn around the ear. If it senses the head tilting 30 degrees or more it will sound a high-pitched alarm. It's as simple as that. The funny part is how this product is being marketed.

It's being sold by the tech and gadget company, Thinkgeek, as a solution for all-night gaming.

It's a pretty typical situation. You've been gaming for sixteen hours and downed plenty of Bawls and Foosh Energy Mints, but the inevitable has begun to happen - you're starting to get the dreaded drowsy head tilt. Maybe this means it's time to quit your session and get some rest. We think not. The better answer is to put on the Anti Sleep Driving Alarm and keep on going.

Sorry to say it, but the lives of people on the road has a little precedence over hitting level 70, but it's a nice ploy, Thinkgeek. It's available for $15 and is probably one of the cheapest and easiest solutions for nodding drivers (other than not driving tired). [Product Page]

Researchers Looking At Blue Lights To Fight Nodding Drivers

Travis Hudson — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:45:00 EDT

We all known that sleeping drivers is a leading cause of automobile deaths and accidents, but researchers are learning of less technological ways to combat dozing drivers: blue lights. The latest studies show that sleepy drivers should take a 30-minute blue light "bath" to combat drowsiness while driving. Why would one choose blue lights instead of coffee, energy drinks and cigarettes?

It's because the lights are capable of resetting and modifying a body's internal clock. Exposing the body to the short wavelengths of blue light has the strongest affect on the internal clock and is the most effective way to provide daytime alertness. The research team at Rensselaen Polytechnic Institute in Troy are also investigating putting LED lights in the cabs of trucks and vehicles to provide the light "baths" while driving. [New Scientist]

Toyota System Watches the Eyes for Signs of Nodding Off

Travis Hudson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST

By including an eye-monitoring system in some vehicles, Toyota is the latest manufacturer to take a stab at the problem of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Toyota's tech works a lot like EyeAlert a product we featured many-a-year ago.

The system includes a dash mounted camera that keeps an eye on your, uh, eyes. It can determine the angle of a driver's face and then calculate if the eyes are "properly open," which would likely mean from 60 to 100 percent open.

The added bonus of this system is the ability to sense imminent collisions. If you're about to slam into a median or possibly a forest, the system recognizes if the the face is not facing forward or the eyes are closed and quickly alerts the driver that something is about to go down and advises said driver to go get a Red Bull or brace for impact.

The system will first be made available on Japanese Toyotas. No word if it will ever make it stateside. [Fareastgizmos]