November 21st, 2005
Motorcycle Helmet with Rear View Display
By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
Longtime RealTechNews readers know that I love scooters and that I was recently run over by a semi truck. Which is why this new technology is esepcially appealing to me (and my replacement Blackberry.) Thanks to RTN reader Michael Forry for sending me this information!
Seeing behind you on a motorcycle has always been a problem. Sometimes the mirrors vibrate, and sometimes they offer a terrific view of your elbows, and most of the time they offer a distinctly inferior view of the rear compared to that you get in a car because you can’t see the parts directly behind you. As a soldier in combat will tell you, when your situational awareness is down in a hostile environment, the risk of injury multiplies enormously. And hence when a helmet with an integrated rear view mirror system was launched last week in Munich we think it’s worth a look. Manufacturers Reevu spent ten years developing the helmet, which has a built-in 180 degree unbreakable rear-view mirror system in the hope it will save lives on the roads by improving situational awareness and hence preventing accidents. The innovative technology allows the wearer to see the road behind, using a system of unbreakable mirrors constructed out of ABS, which are contained inside the helmet shell and provide a window in the top of the helmet opening – a robust, low cost heads-up display. Source: Gizmag
MissingFrame says:
My mirrors do much better than the diagram shown but I’d still rather have a helmet attached system, especially in heavy-lean corners! I would really love to see this in action, since some of the best ideas on paper aren’t that great in real life.
November 21st, 2005 at 2:31 pm
John says:
I used to ride Harley Davidsons and put a LOT of miles on them. I’m still alive because of the eyes in the back of my head. However that precluded helmets, so may be a good idea anyway since government requires the things these days. Oh, well times pass you by.
John
November 21st, 2005 at 5:33 pm
John Corliss says:
Full head helmets restrict side vision and hearing, as well as cause neck fatigue.
I’ll stick with my beanie. Helmets suck anyway.
November 22nd, 2005 at 3:24 am
MissingFrame says:
How come it’s the riders that run with open-exhaust, postage-stamp mirrors, and no windsheild try to convince us that the reasons you bring up are why they wear no helmet?
November 22nd, 2005 at 9:45 am
Mike says:
It’s because they have postage size brains.
I tried one of these helmets on in Milan. The helmet was comfortable and the view rearward was impressive. Sportbikes in particularl seem to have non-functional rearview mirrors….usually a nice look at the inside of the elbow. The rep I spoke with said they are working on DOT conformation at this time. Cool idea.
November 22nd, 2005 at 2:56 pm