The stresses of everyday commuting and travel can really get to you. All that time wasted while idling in traffic. Stomping your brakes as another driver makes a left on a red light directly in front of you. Or perhaps sitting behind someone in the left lane of the freeway, puttering along at 57 miles per hour. You can finish your journey much more triggered than when you set off.
Hyundai understands the frustration you experience with other drivers, and they’re preparing to offer their own brand of sedative if necessary.
Introduced last month at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Hyundai’s Health + Mobility Cockpit (or Healthcare Cockpit) is all about monitoring and controlling your emotions while driving. Much like an ever-watchful therapist, the idea behind the concept is to connect mobility and wellness through the creation of an in-car environment conducive to increased focus or relaxation.
Hyundai envisions a car full of different sensors that monitor the physical and mental states of the driver. Tracking driver posture, breathing habits, heart rates, eye movements, and facial feature recognition are all on offer here. Alertness and emotional state are gathered through these variables, and the car will then formulate an appropriate response. To regulate the driver, Hyundai has created a multi-sensory mood experience.
The automaker calls these “Mood Bursts.” They’re special changes which take place inside the car to help adjust a driver’s mood. The bursts are temporary in nature, and are designed to deliver “contrasting moments rather than prolonged environmental change.” Sort of like those contrasting moments when you hop out of your Suburban after your solo commute, but choose to recycle your empty can of Monster Energy rather than toss it in the trash bin.
Hyundai has highlighted five different areas where there could be a reaction from the Health + Mobility Cockpit, depending on need:
- Posture: If the posture sensor detects the driver is losing their focus or alertness (no slouching!) the seat can automatically adjust to a more upright position. If irritation or discomfort is detected, active lumbar goes to work, massaging the driver’s back to put them at ease.
- Smell: When the monitoring systems notice a driver needs a change of mood, different scents can be pumped through the cabin. Lavender or eucalyptus are calming if you feel a bit of rage happening, and peppermint or cedar can work if you seem a bit sleepy or ho-hum.
- Light: Variable lighting temperatures emanating from the dash can stimulate the driver, causing increased alertness.
- Temperature: The ambient temperature inside the car is part of the monitoring system, and it can automatically be adjusted to direct warmer or cooler air at the driver to alter responsiveness. A blast of cold air to the face always peps you up a bit, doesn’t it?
- Sound: Indicated as one of the most effective experiences, the Healthcare Cockpit can work with music and radio apps to create either calming or alertness environments. Perhaps you’d enjoy hearing The Carpenters in high traffic situations, or a White Snake alert burst at 2:30 A.M.
Hyundai will allow the driver some control of the mood, however:
Hyundai’s health and mobility concepts allow drivers to intentionally shift modes for increased personal productivity or relaxation. Many distractions are inside the car, so the Healthcare Cockpit uses [some] modes to help drivers be both safe and productive without having to take their eyes off the road.
There are four distinct modes the driver can select: Enrichment, Connection, Reflection, and Check-list. Enrichment focuses on bringing you new “discovery playlist” material through the audio system. Connection allows hands-free chats with family and friends, reducing isolation and allowing you to settle fights between your kids at home, even during your solo commute! Reflection is a personal voice recorder, allowing the driver to record their thoughts and inspirations for later use. Now, Check-list sort of exists already, as it’s about accomplishing small tasks through voice commands and phone integration.
Hopefully soon, all cars will help you slow your roll during your drive. We’ve only just begun.
[Healthcare Cockpit Images: Hyundai]
“To regulate the driver, Hyundai has created a multi-sensory mood experience.”
Pfft… just give me an AV and I’ll create my own.
Interesting that Hyundai considers a 5’8″ nebbish to be its target buyer.
I’ll never have to be concerned about Hyundai regulating my emotions as I would NEVER buy a POS Hyundai!
Make Oldsmobile Great Again!
Any system that attempts to alter my mood by playing The Carpenters will be summarily removed with a sharp screwdriver and Vice-Grips.
They can keep their posture fixing, and their peppermint and eucalyptus fragrances, too, while they are at it.
Just what you need, someone else fooling with the thermostat. Forget all this, just track the eyes. If they don’t look in the direction of the windshield for more than one second, disable the throttle.
Thanks Hyundai, but I already have access to calming fragrances that are far more effective than lavender or eucalyptus.
Hail to the 420!
A Peachy Peach tree freshener hanging from the coat hook is what does it for me, but I have a feeling that’s not what you’re talking about here.
They’re talkin about THE DRUGS.
Since some of this is healthcare data, is the system HIPAA compliant?
Yeah.. just another hackable snitchbox unprotected by even the IT security practiced by a health care provider.
This is an interesting angle, and one which would need serious consideration/programming before a finished product came to market.
The easiest way out may be to not capture any personal details of the driver(s), and not store any of the vitals data.
Just a thought!
Sorry, but on this website the musical acts need to be more Canadian. Let’s try Anne Murray and April Wine.
I only know who Anne Murray is because they used to advertise a Time-Life compilation CD of her music, in the early ’90s. In America.
Any chance TTAC can license this technology for use in the comments section?
Rage detected.
*Monitor sprays water on someone from Australia.*
DAMN IT! now my co-workers KNOW I’m crazy. Don’t make me laugh that hard!
LOL
I don’t need any help from Hyundai. I can cure most of my ills anytime I get behind the wheel of my 69 Mach I and drive for either business or pleasure.
I think I’ve seen this line in a few sci fi stories.