Car-to-car communication is an untapped market, and drivers wishing to express themselves to other motorists have until now been limited to license plate frames and their own middle finger. A device called the Drivemocion could serve to expand the vocabulary of drivers using a wireless display module and remote to send messages to other drivers within eyeshot. The circular rear display can show smiley faces, frown faces, "Thanks," and "Back Off." From what we can tell, the Drivemocion is not programmable, though what do you expect for €11? It does, however, present an interesting challenge to car hackers everywhere who have more to say than just : )
Click here for a video of the Drivemocion in action.
[Source: Au-My via Gizmodo]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
V @ Jul 19th 2006 6:35PM
This is going to cause people to mess with you even more. Just a warning.
Vinny @ Jul 19th 2006 6:45PM
It would only be a matter of time before they have a hack for it on hackaday.com.
glacia @ Jul 19th 2006 6:47PM
Actually there have been cheap low voltage programable LED displays around for years that would work even better. You can also do simple graphics with them like this one. Although I suspect it's probably safer for people to just keep their attention on the road.
Most of the people who annoy me are in front of me anyway. The guy cutting into the front of the turn lane because he just feels more important than the other 20 people in line, the guy who cuts across 3 lanes at 80mph because he missed his exit and just can't bare to get off at the next exit and come back.
Of course there's the guy who insists on sharing his love oftoo much base with everyone at the stop-light by having his windows down. but I supect he already knows he's an ass and would be happy you noticed.
Michael Karesh @ Jul 19th 2006 6:55PM
Roughly a quarter-century ago, back in the pre-digital age, an analog version of this product was a fad for a few months. A bound set of round signs was attached to a ping-pong paddle-like handle. You could flip through the signs to say what you wanted to say, then hold it up to the window. There might still be one somewhere in my parents' house.
blurger293 @ Jul 19th 2006 7:34PM
This idea has been bouncing around in my head for years but I guess someone beat me to it. I was always wondering about the safety and legality of such a device.
KazO @ Jul 19th 2006 7:36PM
It's still no Pimpstar!
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/because-spinners-are-so-very-2005-led-message-board-wheels/
Jason @ Jul 19th 2006 7:37PM
It's under your mom's big bowl of ribbon candy that's now stuck into one gigantic four-pound lump.
Robert Brodrecht @ Jul 19th 2006 7:47PM
I've been meaning to build one of those for ages. Just program in a few buttons and put them on the dash... "Thanks" and "Sorry" mostly. Since I've been in LA, I'd like a "Stop Honking" or "Shut Up." But with the freeway shootings on the 405, I'd be worried about having a "F YOU" button...
Bert @ Jul 19th 2006 7:59PM
The effoty that one spends entering a message just leads to more inattention at the wheel. Cell phones are bad enough. Enven though there is no typing this sort of crap should be banned.
For anyone that saw the most recent Top Gear, when Jeremy was typing his message in to a similar device, in the back of the caravan (U.K. caravan, not U.S. Caravan), James spent a few seconds to look to see what was being typed.
We only need 3 had signals:
- "Thank you" show of the hand. Hand straight up, generaly showing the backside to the thankee.
- "you should pay more attention" hand wave. Usually waving hand showing the palm.
- "You know you are an idiot". Pick your favourite from any regional sign-language-dialect. "you are number 1", "V for victory", etc.
What ever happened to a simple, personal "Thank you"?
cowboy bob @ Jul 19th 2006 8:04PM
My middle finger says it all.
Nate Wesley @ Jul 19th 2006 9:45PM
I had always figured someone would someday develop an in-car version of those digital scrolling marquees you can find at movie theaters and retail stores...and with voice recognition you could edit them on the fly.
I REALLY should've been working on this for 'American Ineventor'.
Stoneman @ Jul 19th 2006 11:29PM
I want one that shows a big, hair, nasty ass when I get angry. Oh and throws rotted chunks of fish too.
:)
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Re-design coming this August.
Richard Warren @ Jul 20th 2006 7:08AM
#4 Yep, and you could get them real cheap at garage sales too, right next to the Pet Rock.
Loren @ Jul 20th 2006 8:54AM
Well I look for people to get shot with these but I wouldnt mind a get off the damn phone signal :D
ZoomZoomin' @ Jul 20th 2006 12:08PM
LOL...the last thing the world needs is a way for drivers to communicate.
Even if an LED display is currently legal, it would become illegal in 5, 4, 3, ...
AbbydonKrafts @ Jul 20th 2006 12:48PM
I've been wanting a full-width board (not marquee because of the time it takes to read) for years. The problem is that no matter what NEGATIVE message it says, the behavior of the offender won't improve. If anything, it'll get worse. I found that for tailgaters, the best offense is to drive 30 miles UNDER the limit and never let them pass. Eventually they'll back off in hopes that you'll speed back up. If you are lacking in time and/or patience, just hit the brakes every 1/4 mile. That tends to work 25% of the time, but you'll get 100% satisfaction from knowing you're ticking them off. Positive messages are not needed. As the other commenters point out, a simple hand-up wave works very well. I get it all the time when I let mergers in. So.. I don't see a need for a digital sign. Only trouble could come of it.
DJA @ Jul 20th 2006 12:50PM
Oh yeah, this is just asking people to go caveman. One display option might as well be a bullseye...
asurroca @ Jul 20th 2006 1:27PM
To the folks saying that this would incite road-rage... That's why they're on the rear window. By the time you're ahead of the potential psycho, you can mash the pedal and escape their evil clutches! ;)
I won't buy one until I can say stuff like "f**k off" and "where'd you learn to drive?"
Kalaharichi @ Jul 23rd 2006 9:43PM
KEEP THIS AWAY FROM ZINIDAN ZIDAN!
UBetCha @ Jul 28th 2006 12:30AM
Well... It's About Time !!!
On the + side ... Too many people drive like IDIOTS ! Can't tell you how many times I've WISHED I had a piece of POSTER BOARD to "extend my feelings" to others on the road (good or bad) ....
On the - side ... We think CELL phones are "BAD NEWS" ?? How many people have accidents whilst driving and TALKing on their cell ?? ......THIS..........is NOT GOOD ! Think of all these people on the road...TRYING to put their finger on a single BUTTON (whilst, for the most part...in a HURRY) ~ ...WHEN...You're EMOTIONAL?? !! ...AND drive at the same time ?? NOT A GREAT IDEA !
But, hey...what do I know ;)