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Smart Hat Controls Toy Car
FRIDAY MAY 11 2007 10:00 AM
Submitted by roguemind. Edited By Rahodeb.
TAGS: remote control, car, toys, disabled, kids
A new "smart" cap has been developed that will allow physically or mentally disabled people to control a toy car via radio transmissions. The device was originally made for a 5 year-old boy who was paralyzed in a car crash.
Electronics expert Mike Heath was approached by a charity group who asked him to come up with something to enable the boy to play independently and to improve his cognitive skills.
He later teamed up with Mike Taylor who specializes in marketing new inventions.
Any one wearing the hat can remotely control one of three cars just by moving their head around. The cap has four sensors in it that can detect movement in four directions (forward, backward, right, and left) and can work together to make the car move diagonally. The device could also be adapted to work in gloves or shoes to accommodate individuals who have a wide variety of ailments.
The car is called "Dream-Racer" and the inventors are now touring the United States showcasing it to disabled children. This device could also be developed to work with more then just remote control cars.
The company is also developing the Dream-Gamer interface, a cap that works with Sony's PS1 and PS2.
Although not compatible with all games, particularly those that require combinations of quick fire button presses, it works well with arcade classics as well as titles such as Crazy Frog Racer 2.
It's good to see motion sensing technology being used in more then just over priced gaming consoles.
The Dream-Racer website is found here.
There is also a Dream-Racer blog here to track its progress.
1131 Comments
braaap
Los Angeles, CA
February 2007
MAY 11, 2007 01:16 PM
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Boston, MA
January 2005
MAY 11, 2007 04:33 PM
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November 2005
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July 2006
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