Wearables

DriveSafe App brings drowsiness detection to Google Glass

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DriveSafe uses the eyewear's built-in sensors to detect when the driver is falling asleep, sounding an alert through Google Glass' bone conduction speaker
DriveSafe uses the eyewear's built-in sensors to detect when the driver is falling asleep, sounding an alert through Google Glass' bone conduction speaker
DriveSafe can integrate with Glass' navigation capabilities to direct drowsy driver's to the nearest rest area

A pertinent question regarding Google Glass that is so far unanswered is whether it will be legal to use while driving. The prospect of having the distraction of email, messaging and social media apps in your line of vision when behind the wheel has raised concerns over the safety of the eyewear for drivers. Poised to play some sort of role in this debate is DriveSafe, an app for Google Glass that alerts drivers to when they are getting sleepy.

The app can be download via DriveSafe's website and will need to be sideloaded onto the device as it is not yet supported by the companion app, MyGlass. Users then say "OK Glass, keep me awake" to enable the app as they are about to begin driving.

It uses the eyewear's built-in sensors to detect when the driver is falling asleep, sounding an alert through the Google Glass bone conduction speaker. In addition, DriveSafe can integrate with Glass' navigation capabilities to direct tired drivers to the nearest rest area.

We have seen a number of attempts to address the well established dangers of driver drowsiness. The Anti Sleep Pilot looks to reduce the road toll through a unit placed on the dashboard, while car manufacturers like Mercedes Benz began incorporating drowsiness detection technology long ago.

The DriveSafe app by no means eradicates the inherent distraction of wearing augmented reality headgear while driving. Rather, it constitutes a tick in Glass' safety feature column that proponents of its legality may use to argue their case.

Source: DriveSafe

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3 comments
MG127
"It uses the eyewear's built-in sensors to detect when the driver is falling asleep" sounds like a motion sensor. monitoring the headmovement is really inacurate for detecting sleep. the real problem is the micro-sleep, that you can detect only by monitoring the eye-lid closing. some people tend to just stare and sleep with open eyes, therefor you would need to monitor the pupil movement.
VirtualGathis
Another issue this app fails to ackowledge is the anti-Glass movement that has already created laws making it illegal to use Glass while operating a vehicle in several states. In those states this app will be useless as the Glass owners will not be permitted to wear Glass while in a moving vehicle.
Tektinker
Anti-Glass movement? While I'm concerned with the wider safety issues inherent with augmentation devices like this, I don't want to see any undue restrictions other than obvious safety.
Just think. Once everyone has brain mapping down, we'll be able to learn subliminally, piping info straight to the spot needed to process it. No blocking of the view needed.