Scientists and researchers at Stanford must have quite the fascination with David Hasselhoff and his KITT because they are working on making the talking-car technology a reality. The lead on this team, Clifford Nass, says that a more intelligent car that knows about the driver and communicates with the driver can help provide a safer and more engaging driving experience.
He continues to give examples of how his talking car concepts would help drivers:
- Depressed drivers drive better when their car reacts as if it too is depressed
- Cars that speak in complex sentences tend to make you pay attention, rather than zoning out
- Older drivers prefer younger voices
- Drivers feel closer to the computer if they believe it's embedded in the car, rather than a remote device.
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The one downside is that this technology could provide more information to insurers than you would want. As long as you don't get a lot of tickets or get into wrecks the insurers don't need to know you drive like a bat out of hell, but this technology could make that happen. [Physorg via Giz]