Australians conquer bike safety, forest fires

The Australian Student Design Awards are home to quite a few interesting ideas this year -- along with a few head scratchers and wishful thinking. We're particularly digging this Pulse Bicycle Safety Helmet. The concept features an "Ear Drop" Bluetooth headset on one side of the helmet, leaving your hands free and your traffic-side ear listenin' for danger. You operate the headset with three easy-to-find buttons on the helmet, and the USB Ear Drop can plug into your computer to track your training, along with providing your vital info in case of an accident. There's also a rear headlight for helping cars spot your shiny noggin at night. Other highlights of the Student Awards include the "entile" interlocking edutainment system, a fire tracking UAV for rural fire department use, and the solar powered Ersa water condenser and power generator.

[Via Popgadget]

[ybike @ Apr 7th 2007 3:08PM]

This helmet is designed for countries that drive on the Left side of the road, like Australia. The ear drop is on the wrong side for America. It would muffle the sound of traffic. Perhaps they will make a change for the rest of us.

[infectedarea @ Apr 10th 2007 6:05PM]

More than likely they would, since that is the whole point of it having only one speaker. The only thing that I am disappointed by with this is a lack of solar to power it.

[grizzly @ Apr 10th 2007 7:14AM]

Waaaaaa! Something develop for the Aussies first! Lump it, Yank!

[Moe Abe @ Apr 7th 2007 6:00PM]

Pulse Bicycle Safety Helmet? Reading the title it can be assumed that a product has been designed to improve bicycle safety, but it is not. When cycling with a friend, both can be checking road hazards while talking. Unfortunately, talking with a friend on the phone while cycling is not safe, no matter how innovative the design of the product may be. However, this concept is very convenient. It allow the rider to talk to friends without having to search for his phone while not riding.

[tekdroid @ Apr 7th 2007 6:57PM]

hate to say this, but integrating existing products with anything is not innovation. Nor flexibility. How will this be adjusted for different ears/ comfort levels/ perspiration levels ? Basics like price and need/want come up too.

Helmets involved in a collision need to be tossed out. Toss it out and buy another expensive helmet? You see so much "this is supposedly cool" products out there, but I think most of them have no chance of survival on the market because they simply ignore usability and need basics, instead focusing on "high tech" for the sake of high-tech.

[Dave @ Apr 7th 2007 10:45PM]

@roid

Your right, when in any way damaged a helmet has to be thrown away (or continued to be worn if your an idiot) however, from what I understand the 'ear plug' is able to be removed so all you would need is a new helmet not the full system. Also, what would be better is having the control on the handlebars as a clip on module.

[ottovds @ Apr 8th 2007 3:34AM]

This helmet maybe is good voor our fellow cityzens, but for more it ain't good anymore. With conventional helmets you pay more for more holes. Thats normal, because you need good ventilation when cycling.

This helmet has any holes. So thats a lot of swet in Australia...