Ford Italy is working on the world’s first ‘smart’ window and it sounds kind of amazing.
What’s smart about this window is that it vibrates and enables blind or partially-sighted people to ‘see’ the scenery outside.
Called ‘Feel The View’, the window takes pictures and turns them into high-contrast monochrome images.
These images are then reproduced on the glass using special LEDs. When the image is touched, the different shades of grey vibrate with a range of 225 intensities.
This allows blind or partially sighted passengers to touch the scenery, allowing them to rebuild the landscape in their mind.
As well, the smart car also features a voice assistant, using artificial intelligence (AI), to describe the scenery outside.
Ford Italy’s spokesperson, Macro Alu Safii, said the smart window is about using technology to make people’s lives better.
“We seek to make people’s lives better and this was a fantastic opportunity to help blind passengers experience a great aspect of driving,” he said. “The technology is advanced, but the concept is simple – and could turn mundane journeys into truly memorable ones."
To achieve the smart window, Ford’s Italian team worked with GTB Roma and a local start-up named Aedo, which specialises in devices for the visually impaired.
The idea of using haptic technology, which recreates the sense of touch through vibrations, to help visually impaired people see is really fascinating.
And whilst the ‘Feel the View’ vibrating window is only a prototype at this stage, it’s great to see a global company like Ford working on projects to make journeys better for all its customers.
Earlier this year, Ford Britain launched a new campaign aimed at improving mental health in the workforce.
The car manufacturer found that as around 56 per cent of people say they have important, emotional conversations in their car, it would be ideal to focus the campaign on talking about your mental health.
Andy Barratt, Ford Britain’s chairman and manufacturing director, told the Standard at the time: “People are open in a car, they’ve dropped their guard. And because it’s often only two people, it becomes a place where a deep, meaningful and more searching conversation can take place."
Let’s hope Ford continues on this path of trying to make the world a better place.
