What's the best way to get teens to pay attention when they're behind the wheel? How about a little distracted driving demo with the help of the Oculus Rift?
That's the idea behind Toyota's TeenDrive365 simulator, which has teenagers strap on an Oculus Rift, get into a stationary vehicle, and navigate some virtual roads.
While driving, however, teenagers will have to juggle various distractions, like traffic noises, the radio, text messages, and virtual friends sitting in the passenger and back seats.
Those who lose focus will "experience the consequences of distracted driving within the virtual setting," according to Toyota. Ideally, the company wants teens to "come away a little wiser about what it takes to be safe behind the wheel."
"Oculus Rift provides a virtual reality driving experience that mirrors real life behind the wheel, giving us a powerful, one-of-a-kind way to show parents and teens how everyday distractions can affect their ability to drive safely," Marjorie Schussel, corporate marketing director for Toyota, said in a statement.
The simulator will be making appearances at auto shows around the country. Starting today, it will be available at the New England International Auto Show in Boston, and it will be at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit from Jan. 17-25. Look out for it at the Washington Auto Show and Philadelphia Auto Show later this month, too.
Toyota TeenDrive365 has been around since 2013, but this is the first time the car maker has integrated an Oculus Rift headset. It was developed by Brightline Interactive in partnership with 360i and with support from The PEERS Foundation.
Last year, a study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development revealed that drivers ages 15 to 20 represent more than 6 percent of all motorists on the road, but account for more than 11 percent of fatalities, and 14 percent of police-reported, injury-inducing crashes. The report compared the results of two studies that pit 100 drivers ages 18 to 72 with an average 20 years of on-road experience against 42 teens who had drivers' licenses for less than three weeks.
In related news, Verizon today announced Verizon Vehicle, a new service that will provide drivers with diagnostic technology, live assistance, and GPS-based roadside assistance.
Verizon Vehicle will be compatible with nearly every vehicle made and sold in the U.S. since 1996, the company said, and you don't have to be an existing Verizon customer. It will cost $14.99 per month, plus $12.99 per month for any additional vehicles. You can pre-order your kit now and Verizon expects to start shipping them around April 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment