The forward looking camera is a realy interesting suggestion, indeed. IT would need a loop buffer that would be similar to what we developed for crash recording, which does a great job, but it is not simple.nor is it particularly cheap. But it could certainly be another game changer.
@William: I had the same questions regarding the airbag. Let me see what I can find. I know it costs about $2,000 to have an internal airbag reloaded in an average car. Lucklily, I have never experienced this. But if the truck in front of me loses a 2x4 or box that inflates the external airbag, you can be sure I would track them down! Maybe that is a new use for dashboard cameras: capturing the license plate of the vehicle in front of you.
Up in my area, deer and/or moose are also an issue. I wonder if there is an insurance option that covers this...
We tested a "front of vehicle" airbag for a private inventor back in about 2002. It was quite effective but it would have been quite expensive as well. And what does happen when it fires while on the expressway a chunk of trash flies up in front of you, and it triggers. Because it must sense very quickly and at some distance out. That much is physics. Who pays for those repairs when it fires accidentally? And the repairs will be a bit more than the $2000 mentioned already. One more question is whose fault is it when the thing fires in error and causes an accident? Please answer that one.
@Barbara, I agree with you on that, I feel there should be a measure on the rate at which our lives activities are becoming more dependent on electronics. If care is not taken, we may become so lazy even in thinking just because the is a device that it handling that natural task for us
Great idea! I'd love it if I were in the embarrassing situation of hitting someone in front of me. On the other hand, if I stupidly hit something else; garbage can, cardboard box, stuff that fell off that truck, etc. I wouldn't be too happy replacing that $2000 airbag.
Why stop there? What I want is a bigger airbag on the outside of the car that deploys when I hit another car or retaining wall. Now you've got something that would be a game changer, like seatbelts and later, airbags.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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