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An old story is told about the Rich Texan who had the windshield of his Cadillac ground to his spectacle prescription. But there's no joke about new spectacular advancements that have been accomplished regarding presbyopia and refractive correction.
Recent figures place our presbyopic population of 65 years or older at 12.4 percent. But by the year 2020 it will rise to about 20 percent, according to the Census Bureau. It has been ascertained that it is the fastest growing group in the country. Furthermore, until the recent gasoline crunch, people were driving longer distances than ever before.
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GM designed laser windshield
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Lasers, a camera and infrared sensors
could enhance visibility
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It was just a question of time before auto manufacturers addressed their attention to the driver with hampered vision such as presbyopia. General Motors researchers are designing a windshield that uses lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to enable objects in the road to stand out and be seen clearer. For instance, during a fog situation, according to GM, a laser projects a blue line onto the windshield that delineates the edge of the road. Also, if a person, animal or some other object is in the driver's path, infra-red sensors will detect this and project an outline on the windshield.
Further research will use a coating on the windshield which will glow when struck by ultraviolet rays to reveal additional undetected objects on the road. Sufficient information concerning the mechanics of this procedure is still to come. It appears that special equipment will be necessary to determine the car speed and direction in relation to the road and the driver's head posture. Additional devices will be needed to track head and eye movements. A prototype model will look similar to an F-16 pilot's "Head-up display."
Unresolved problems have attracted many skeptics. The Chicago Tribune coverage stated, "Skeptics say that it would be very frustrating or confusing to have things appearing on a windshield. We need to see the world." The inventors reply, "We're enhancing the world. We'll take a feature that should be important to a driver, like the edge of a road and paint a line over the real edge."
Chrysler Motors spokesmen say that they are also working on such a concept, but Ford Motors revealed no similar plans. Some of the GM models possess a small screen in the dashboard to image an enhanced view of that which appears in the path of the car. Head-up displays will also be available. The display in a Cadillac STS will feature a speed monitor or a special radio station for auditory messages. GM developers feel that they have solved the problem of limited head position in their Head- up display. They say, "What's novel here is that it's the entire windshield and not just a little head box which would contain your head. If we can keep your eyes on the road so that they're not looking down as much, that's good, helpful technology."
The magic of this new windshield is helpful to drivers of any age who have a vision problem. If a driver is speeding, a pink box appears with an image of an approaching speed limit sign to alert the driver. Also, while a GPS navigation instrument is an excellent device, there is a problem in the final 50 yards of a designated road as a specific house may not be targeted. The new invention will reveal the exact location of any elusive home.
As for me, I've become a card carrying skeptic about those off the planet ideas. But please remember, we skeptics are not bad people. I'm already coping with the effects of an incipient cataract, sun glare, headlight glare, street light diffusion, floaters that look
like the Titanic and secondary reflections from the ocular surface of my -5.00 D. lenses. I don't think I need virtual images of all kinds to suddenly clutter up my windshield and drive me to more distraction than I can handle. But hey, that's just me.
However, Dr. Ron Blum, optometrist, is not about to be distracted from his very own revolutionary ideas. Dr. Blum is the chairman, president, and chief executive of PixelOptics located in Roanoke, VA. He claims that a futuristic lens of his design will alter presbyopic correction in a manner never seen before. The idea is to insert a thin layer of liquid crystal within the corrective lens. A sensor and microprocessor are required, which provides a reacting lens focus depending on where the user looks. There is a mysterious "controller" which changes the refractive index in the liquid crystal layer, making it appropriate for near or distant objects.
Dr. Blum asserts that the focus will change faster that the eye can blink. Additionally, he feels that "unwanted astigmatism" and distortion will be less evident than in conventional lenses to correct presbyopia. Wearers will be able to see their feet and stairs clearly and participate in sporting events without a problem. Dr. Blum describes the glasses as "thin, lightweight and very fashionable." He did not quote a suggested retail price but felt that it would be affordable.
Dr. Vivien Casagrande is a professor of visual science and ophthalmology at Vanderbilt Univ. Medical Center. She inquires, "How might the lenses improve upon bifocals or progressive addition lenses? How far is the lens range for distance objects,” said Dr Casagrande. “While driving, can focus be shifted from traffic lights to the dashboard in an efficient manner?” Dr. Casagrande added that she would need more detailed information, currently absent, for a complete evaluation.
However, she fully supports Dr. Blum's effort to be innovative. PixelOptics is working to develop a separate but related product that might have military applications. The company refers to it as "SuperVision" technology that would enable military personnel to have better than 20/20 vision. Dr. Blum maintains that this new concept will provide U.S. military forces with a combat advantage and reduce the number of friendly fire incidents. Exactly how this is supposed to work has not been released for public consumption at this time.
After considering all of the above, I have decided to apply for a gold, premium, lifetime membership in the skeptic's association of America. I'm trying my best not to shoot from the hip or make a quick decision over the credibility in these matters. But my excitable nature often gets me into trouble. For instance, there was the time when I was walking through the mall and I noticed a crowd around a man lying still and prostrate on the ground. I ran through the crowd shouting, "Stand back. I know CPR." But before I could start a pair of strong hands pulled me to my feet. It was a police officer and he barked, "Mister, we are trying to arrest this man." But hey, that's just me.
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