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So what is it like to drive with Nissan's Smart rearview mirror?
Despite all the changes going on in automobiles lately, one thing that's remained pretty consistent in every car I've driven has been the rearview mirror. We can check that one off now though, now that I've taken a test drive in a Nissan Rogue equipped with the new Smart rearview mirror. Due to roll out on the company's cars in North America next year, it's a simple augmentation that combines a traditional mirror with a video screen. Flipping the dimmer switch usually meant for night driving drops you into video camera mode, with a feed streamed directly from a 1.3MP camera mounted in the trunk that drops out the usual blockages from the car's interior for a clear view of what's behind you. Back up cameras are already common -- and highly necessary if you have my (lack of) parallel parking skills -- but is it time to change out something that's worked pretty well for the last century or so?
Reevu lets loose updated MSX1 helmet with built-in rear-view system
Reevu's MSX1 helmet has been around in one form or another for years now, but the company has apparently be busily working on improving it all this time, and it's now finally let an actual production unit loose for an early review. As before, the helmet relies on an entirely mechanical mechanism rather than rear-view cameras, which webBikeworld says ends up functioning much like a car's rear-view mirror in practise, with the small mirror in front resting just outside the rider's line of sight. Most importantly, however, the site says that the helmet itself is "built like a tank," and is "good enough to stand on its own even if it didn't have the rear view system." Head on past the break for a quick video overview, and hit up the source link below for the site's complete review.
Transparent OLED rearview mirror both dazzles and distracts
Although we've been hearing about transparent OLEDs for years now, mum's been the word on an actual product. So far the focus has been on Germany, but it looks like some interesting things have been going down in Korea as well. Researchers at ETRI (the flexible OLED folks) have apparently applied for 51 patents both nationally and internationally for the tech, including one for a transparent oxide resistor that helps increase the aperture ratio of AMOLEDs. And while all this is going down, NeoView KOLON has unveiled a new prototype rearview mirror that utilizes a transparent OLED display for -- well, displaying things. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road, eh?Read - "Korean Researchers Develop Transparent Transistors OLED Displays"Read - "Neoview Kolon transparent OLED prototype"
Sanyo's AirCam-equipped backup camera provides virtual views
While there's plenty of options for in-car accident recorders, how's about a device to help prevent one type of collision in the first place? Sanyo's latest rear-view backup camera system "digitally creates visual guidelines (including vehicle width and distance indicators at two, four, and eight feet) that appear on your car's monitor," which ought to help you from backing that bus of yours over any stray shrubbery or misplaced youngsters. Additionally, the CCA-BC200 provides a trio of modes to view the surroundings behind you, which could come in handy if you're riding sans a helper in the passenger's seat. Granted, you'll still be forced to fork over $299.99 for this luxury in addition to picking up an LCD of your choice to view it on, but if your driveway is often covered with more toys than cleared cement, it may be worth the investment.
