Slowburn
I like the fish-eye. It completely eliminates the blind-spot even when dealing with steep ramps. It did take a little getting use to.
Kris Lee
Come to Europe Dr. Hicks!
Ct
A simple inexpensive solution instead of using a system of cameras, video screens, or warning lights? One step back, two steps forward.
Fahrenheit 451
Hasn't MultiVex Mirrors, in the US, being doing this for some time now?
MasterG
This is good stuff dont let it go the way of the intermittent wiper, can this algorithm he devised be applied to ccd's? Would be nice to fit a camera instead of side mirrors that didnt have that fish eye effect.
Ross Nicholson
Terrific idea. Quite an advancement.
Gene Jordan
Great idea. I'm convinced that most drivers fail to use their side mirrors at all or fail to use them properly when they do. I couldn't count the number of times I've gotten into somebody else's car and noticed that their side mirrors were turned too far in towards the car. As if seeing the side of your car helps or something? They should be configured out further allowing a quick tilt of the head left or right to see more.
Hopefully, this invention will not only help people see more, but also to instruct people on how to use their side mirrors. Until it is available, a few dollars at most any automotive store will get you two small circular side mirrors that will stick to the far edge of your current mirror and give you more side vision.
Τριαντάφυλλος Καραγιάννης
That is all well and good but it doesn't defeat the need to sway your head left or right in order to see. Another (potential) minus is that with more visual information to process, drivers might spend more time looking at the mirror than with standard mirrors. And that's practically a safety hazard.
What I would love to see instead is having the contents of the side mirrors projected at some point above the steering wheel, slightly to its left or right but within the driver's FOV. Somewhere where they are not too high so as to mix with their forward view and not too left or right so that they have to sway their head too much. How would this be applicable...? Cameras in place of or alongside side mirrors feeding to the car's dashboard (where we'll be seeing more screens anyway, by the looks of it -pun not intended-)
Arf
Way to go Hicks! Very cool.
Robert in Vancouver
If the cost of this new mirror is close to a regular mirror, it's a no-brainer.
I've had a small stick-on blind spot mirror on my driver's side mirror for many years.
It makes driving in traffic less stressful because you can be 100% certain when it's safe to change lanes.