By David Ponce
There’s no denying that falling asleep at the wheel sucks. And, while this little gadget promises to help in that department, we’re not entirely sure it won’t become a pain in the posterior while it does so. See, the “Drowse Prevention Alarm!” as it’s lovingly called looks a lot like a Bluetooth headpiece. You insert it in your ear much the same way, but should you tilt your head forward more than 10 degrees, a piercing alarm will rattle you back into wakefulness. There’s two volume levels, should you wish to keep the use of that ear.
The problem with it is that there’s no indication it couldn’t be set off if you tilt your head down for another reason than being drowsy. What if you want to look at your feet? Or, what if you want to see how many fries are left? Hell, we can think of a good half dozen perfectly good reasons for looking down, and we’re not sure that getting our ear blasted each time wouldn’t become insufferable. Still, it’s a useful little thing, and at 1,200 yen ($10), it falls squarely into the “Why Not?” camp.
[ Manufacturer’s Website ] VIA [ Plastic bamboo ]
There was such a device some time (read years) ago and it was absolutely senseless. There are existing several warnings from experts, that these devices have two effects: a) The driver tends to drive when already sleepy (“the device will protect me”) and b) if waken up by such a device the period of sleeping was long enough to loose control of the vehicle.
The best/cheap solution: Sleep more and let somebody else drive when it is unavoidable to drive.
Utterly useless for drivers who nod off without tipping their head… or those who tip their head after they drive off the cliff.
How about glasses that measure the amount of exposed eye surface.