1. Blinkers ++
Team 5

2. What is Blinkers++? Next generation communication system for vehicles
Simple, real-time visual communication
Multi-touch input
Driver’s gestures produce an output on LEDs around the perimeter of a car
Color-coded messages
Tri-color LEDs produce blue, green, yellow, orange, and red outputs

3. What to Expect in the next 5 minutes
Environmental Impact
Limiting Lead
Power Supply
Ethical and Social Impact
Direct User Harm
Indirect User Harm
Social Impact

4. Environmental Impact Limiting Lead Manufacturing Considerations
Use Lead-free Solder
Use RoHS-compliant parts
Disposal Consideration
Simply dispose of host automobile correctly
Proper infrastructure already in place

5. Environmental Impact cont’d
Power Supply
Uses the automobile’s lead-acid battery.
Blinkers++ adds no additional batteries to the market.
No net environmental impact
Disposal method is recycling, infrastructure is well developed
Consumers are already aware of the process.

6. Ethical and Social Impact: Direct User Safety
Low voltage operation limits potential of shock or fire.
No moving parts to cause physical harm
Smooth LED pulsing routine limits risk of epileptic seizure.
The same cannot be said of most traffic signalling.

7. Ethical and Social Impact: Indirect User Safety
Erroneous output may lead to a collision
E.g. Accidentally communicating right-of-way green may lead to a dangerous situation
The system is mounted on the steering wheel
In the event of a collision, it will be blown to the side along with the usual steering wheel cap when the airbag is deployed.
Possible subsequent shattering, Blinkers may use a more flexible material for multi-touch.

8. Ethical and Social Impact: Social and Cultural Considerations
Blinkers++ represents a new form of human communication.
Similar to cell phone text messaging
Ubiquitous
Simple
Has the potential to effect a cultural change

9. Ethical and Social Impact: Social and Cultural Considerations cont’d
Increased understanding begets increased cooperation
Less “road rage”
Pavlovian factors lead to better driving technique
Granting right of way
Alerting other drivers to danger
Headlight issues (not on when necessary, highbeams)
Inconsistent direction signalling

10. Ethical and Social Impact: Social and Cultural Considerations cont’d
Less “road rage”
Pavlovian factors lead to better driving technique
Positive reinforcement of good technique
Granting right of way
Alerting other drivers to danger
Negative reinforcement of bad technique
Headlight issues (not on when necessary, highbeams)
Inconsistent direction signalling

11. Ethical and Social Impact: Social and Cultural Considerations cont’d
Powerful forces of social norming
Developers will specify the general meaning and “mood” of colors
However, we cannot predict everything
Society will evolve its own set of appropriate situations and colors
MUCH LIKE CAPS-LOCK == SHOUTING ON THE INTERNET

12. Questions?