AutoVision

Back in the 80s and 90s, Jay Schiffman had big hopes for his AutoVision system, which allowed a person to watch TV while driving a car. His device projected the image onto a small mirror positioned on the windshield, so that the driver could look at the road and a TV show simultaneously.

Schiffman always insisted that AutoVision actually made driving safer, not more dangerous. From the Chicago Tribune (Sep 6, 1998):

Schiffman says he was surprised to discover that television improved the drivers' concentration. He believed the moving and talking images enticed the drivers to keep their eyes on the road as they peeked at the projections in front of them.

In addition, the images kept the drivers alert, he said, stimulating their sympathetic nervous system, or fight-or-flight response.

I don't think many people were convinced by his argument. But maybe self-driving cars will create a new market for his invention.

More info: Patent No. US5061996A; "TV for Cars" Popular Science (Dec 1990)

Newport News Daily Press - May 15, 1998

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 10, 2021
Category: Television | Patents | Cars

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