Futuristic Windshields in Sight
Assuming we’re still driving automobiles in 20 years, researchers are developing a futuristic windshield to assist the elderly in keeping their eyes on the road. In research by General Motors, the windshield will employ lasers, a camera and infrared sensors…

Assuming we’re still driving cars in 20 years, researchers are developing a futuristic windshield to assist the elderly in keeping their eyes on the road.

In research by General Motors, the windshield will employ lasers, a camera and infrared sensors to enhance visibility of objects on the road. Of course, enhancing visibility of everything outside your windshield would only simulate an acid trip and likely spell out disaster, so GM’s windshield will focus on choose objects.

For instance, the infrared sensors would detect and highlight a woman pushing a baby stroller in front of you. And on a foggy night, the lasers would outline the edge of a road. It’s kind of like having Terminator eyeballs while you’re driving — except you’re trying to do the opposite of killing people.

Futuristic windshield aims to help older drivers [CNN]

(Photo credit: Pfly/Flickr)

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We’ve seen reports indicating iPhone owners use their handsets to surf the Web far more than they talk. And we’ve seen surveys in which iPhone owners stated they’ve been mobile surfing more than they ever were before. Also, the iPhone…

We’ve seen reports indicating iPhone owners use their handsets to surf the Web far more than they talk. And we’ve seen surveys in which iPhone owners stated they’ve been mobile surfing more than they ever were before. Also, the iPhone has also been selling like crazy. What does this all add up to?

Somehow, it doesn’t add up to the iPhone (or other smart phones, for that matter) being the most prevalently used device for mobile browsing. An NY Times post on Thursday cited a report from AdMob, a major mobile advertising service, that said just as much ad traffic was coming from typical mobile phones as smartphones. Eh?

That’s just a barometer of actual mobile browsing since it’s based on ad traffic — but AdMob hosts ads on 5,000 mobile sites, so it’s a pretty strong indicator. Are non-smartphone owners trying to prove to their peers they don’t need to pay upward of $80 a month to care about mobile internet? I couldn’t stand surfing the web on my old Motorola RAZR, but I guess I’ve pretty high standards.

The Mobile Web: It’s Not Just for Smartphones [NY Times]

(Photo credit: Kevin Collins/Flickr)

Via [wired.com]

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Mark Bent, owner of SunNight Solar, is giving away 500 of his company’s solar flashlights (no Polish jokes, please). This isn’t a easy first-come first-served deal, however; you need to justify why you deserve one. People who work in emergency services or the media (ahem) get first dibs (as do Al Gore and Angelina Jolie for some reason), but I bet if you’re creative you can talk your way into a free flashlight as well. Tell ‘em Giz sent ya. Shoot them an email at info@sunnightsolar.com with your reasoning and they’ll let you know whether or not you made the cut. Tip: don’t just state you like free stuff, ya jackass. [SunLight Solar via Book of Joe]

Via [gizmodo]

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Today’s New York Times has a trend piece on ULPCs/Netbooks/Nettops/Subnotebooks/Mini PCs/*Insert Buzzword Here* and analysts who fear their low prices will spell doom and gloom for the Computer industry. They cite the already low profit margins for Personal computer sales as an example of what could drive computer companies into the red. Naturally success stories like the Asus Eee, and the next wave of products like the CherryPal were name dropped as potential threats, but it hardly seems time to worry.

The only concrete example in the article to warrant this concern is the aforementioned lack of profit margins, and there are still plenty of people who need more from their computers other than web browsing and micro-sized keyboards. But hey, if analysts are worried, should the rest of the world be? [NYT]

Via [gizmodo]

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