Ford has prototyped a new smart window device called "Feel Your View," allowing blind riders to "see" the scenery around them.
In partnership with agencies GTB Roma and Aedo, "Feel Your View" uses a touch-controlled device placed on the passenger side. When a button is pressed, the device snaps a picture of the scenery, which is then converted into a monochrome image that's reproduced on the glass using a series of LEDs.
When the image is touched, parts of it "vibrates" in tune with the scenery to give blind users an "image" of what the surrounding imagery looks like.
A second feature of Feel Your View is an AI voice assistant that dictates the scenery. If a river is pictured, the voice will describe what is being seen.
"We seek to make people's lives better, and this was a fantastic opportunity to help blind passengers experience a great aspect of driving," said Alù Saffi, a Ford Italy spokesperson. The technology is advanced, but the concept is simple - and could turn mundane journeys into truly memorable ones."
NEXT: CAN SELF-DRIVING CARS BE ANYTHING BUT A GOOD THING FOR THE BLIND?
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