December18
Toyota has teamed with the creator of Nintendo’s “Brain Age” — Professor Ryuta Kawashima — to develop technology to make its cars safer for seniors. Kawashima’s “Brain Age” is designed to stimulate and train the brain, something Toyota hopes to incorporate into its vehicles.
“We envision future cars will be able to monitor brain and emotional activity to back up elderly drivers,” Kawashima told the International Herald Tribune.
Some of the technology being developed includes systems that can determine driving patterns and even stop potentially dangerous activities. One such system is being designed to slow the car if it detects that the gas pedal was pressed accidentally.
Other developments include navigation and climate control systems that can help keep the driver awake and alert. “Ultimately, we hope to develop cars that stimulate brain activity, so that driving itself becomes a form of brain training,” Kawashima said.
Toyota officials are currently attending Kawashima’s “Mobility and Smart Aging” study group, which discusses elderly friendly cars.
Further details are being kept quite until the project is in full swing, but the technology could be available in Toyota cars in as little as five years.
oh just xxxxing great, now they can blame the car when they run over a crowd at a street fair.
This is going to work out just as well as that crappy senior citizen phone they came out with. Sweet now if they faint behind the wheel instead of hitting their head on the horn it will be an “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” button.
No, the crowd will have the privelege of being run over by a Toyota.
Seems to me that they already were designing cars for seniors…narcoleptic ones at that. xxxx, you HAVE to be asleep to find their designs even remotely interesting!
They have to do this because their cars are so freaking boring to drive that they lull you into a stupor, and your senses are so dulled that you forget where the pedals are.
I don’t think their proposed car and Caroll Shelby would get along too well. Or Paul Newman for that matter.
Talkin about a Grand Marquis golf4me?
Further solidifying my belief that Toyota cars are for idiots who can’t be trusted to take care of themselves.
Toyota-
I already have something that irritates me to stay awake, tells me which way to go and reminds me I’m getting old-
She’s my wife.
how about a breathalyzer that gauges how much dust one is farting and if they are over 0.08 ppm the car wont start
As they should be.
I read a report somewhere that Toyota’s cars were becoming the new Buicks. Especially cars like the Camry and Avalon were driven by, on average, people in their 50s.
weren’t they already senior-friendly?
I’m driving and I can’t wake up.
Commodore: There are a lot of old folks in my exurb and a Lot of Avalons, with a few FLTs. Some still prefer the classic RWD Buicks, though.
I would be impressed if the car automatically canceled the left turn signal for them
just put in a heart rate monitor. that way they’ll be able to monitor who’s dying
I remember some older Buicks that didn’t even have a tachometer. Because, y’know, what do old people need to know about engine RPMs and shift points? All they need is a massive speedometer with “25″ bolded, and an equally huge fuel gauge.
Wouldn’t be surprised if that ends up being Toyota soon.
How about a Bimbo friendly variation?
Toyota execs do know what they doing. If most of you will not die due to disease or stupidity you will live till you old. And since there are only 2 alternatives: get old or die we all will be there (sooner or later). Given that population of Japan is getting older quicker then US and even US if not for immigration will get old soon it is not a bad idea to “:old proof” cars. Most of your parents are driving (if you know them) and they are not spring chickens.
Gary, this is a Toyota thread…why would I be talking about the Grand Marquis?
LOL @jack
A true senior friendly vehicle is one that will not start.
“”One such system is being designed to slow the car if it detects that the gas pedal was pressed accidentally.”"
OH MY, thats gotta be the dumbest thing ever. How often is this a problem, like does it really need to be “solved” ?? Toyota you are the most, boring, uninvolved, sterile automaker out there, and you can’t save yourself.
I hope everybody agree that Lotus Elise is a boring car. It is powered by Toyota in US. having said that I was very uncomfortable in Lotus (getting in and out).
Wouldn’t it be easier just to come up with a pill? Not to help the elderly drive, but one to stop Toyota from coming up with any more stupid ideas.
I’ve hit PEDESTRIANS and they CANT GET UP!
how bout we give the seniors cherry a1’s so when they hit someone the ca crumples like an accordion and the person is perfectly fine.
“One such system is being designed to slow the car if it detects that the gas pedal was pressed accidentally.”
Must be nice to have when you see a hit truck or SUV headlights about to T-bone you. Nope, my car says the gas pedal was pressed “accidentally” and won’t move.
And Toyota is about to become the new Buick.
Heheh. sharpie, Toyota isn’t about to become the new Buick…it already is the new Buick considering the average age of a Camry buyer is already like 51+
And I find it amusing that they went to the Brain Age professor of all people to help them with this, WTF?
CA36GTP, a lot of older Buicks didn’t come with tachs because on a vehicle with an automatic transmission not intended for performance they are nothing more than dash clutter.
As for the accidental accelerator usage, I agree it would likely cause more problems then solve, but then you have the news report where some geezer smashed into a coffee shop with his lexus and he still had his foot on the gas and the suspended in air tires were still spinning after the crash.
Here’s a senior friendly feature: turn signals that deactivate if the vehicle has been going straight for more than 2 minutes.
Old foggies buy whatever Consumer Reports recommends. Toyota’s are totally Buick like; big, bland styling, comfy seats (I guess).
Personally all this Old-proof technology is just a prelude of what technology is going to be like in the next few decades, Toyota is just trying to be the pioneers of this technology, but right now with the exception of things like the accidental accelerator usage I don’t really see a big use for this yet. But as technology further advances these features will become more useful and understandable by the public. lol frylock350 you just came up with the idea of a feature we actually need. “Here’s a senior friendly feature: turn signals that deactivate if the vehicle has been going straight for more than 2 minutes.” Just as long as it only deactivates it while they are driving or the RPM’s of the engine are above a certain degree.
Lol and yeah the Toyotas=Buick comments are pretty funny although if Toyota brought back some of their sports cars like the MR2, Celica, Supra and put the “sporty” back into Toyota if they keep up they way they are and only offer the Camry Solara as their only 2dr that coincidentally was like on the 2007 or 2006 of cars that are most commonly searched by gay men, they will become the next Buick.
“As for the accidental accelerator usage, I agree it would likely cause more problems then solve, but then you have the news report where some geezer smashed into a coffee shop with his lexus and he still had his foot on the gas and the suspended in air tires were still spinning after the crash.”
Toyota is acting very much like the federal government in its approach to this issue: “solving” a problem that doesn’t exist. What we need is required physical and mental health exams to be granted a license renewal.
It’s like they run out of relative things to develope in making their automobiles that they feel the need to introduce crap like this. This is what I hate about capitalism, and technology. Give it a ****ing rest! Do we need a car that drives itself, that makes decisions for us. I’m kinda happy with a car that I drive, but they’d like to force me into one that drives me.
frylock: good idea.
Ca36: That’ll never happen. Old people vote
More importantly, make the vehicle IQ friendly. If you need a car to park itself, don’t move if you accidently hit the gas, cancel your turn signals, prevent you from running stoplights, careening into crowds of people or someone’s living room, it simply won’t start, it will lock the doors and call the moron police to come take you away.
sounds good to me!
PFFT…their current cars are for senior citizens
Makes perfect sense to me, the average Toyota buyer is of the babyboomer generation. The same generation that ruined almost everything else for the rest of us that came later.
CTSDRIVER: Better yet, Toyota will have someone to blame instead of blaming floormats.. The old farts won’t even know what hit them.
Toyota’s have always been senior friendly, at least in styling.