GM’s new windshield won’t improve vision, but it will make objects stand out that could otherwise go unnoticed by an aged eye.
At the same time, the developers said the technology won’t cause drivers to plow into trees. It enhances just a few objects that are already in a driver’s view, not splashing distracting information onto the glass.
For example, during a foggy drive, a laser projects a blue line onto the windshield that follows the edge of the road. Or if infrared sensors detect a person or animal in the driver’s path during a night drive, its outline is projected on the windshield to highlight its location.
It’s possible because of a transparent coating on the windshield that lights up when struck by ultraviolet light.
Of course, much more goes into it than that. Sensors have to determine the position of the car in relation to the road, while other devices track the driver’s head and eye movement to make sure the image on the windshield isn’t skewed.
The technological issues mean it probably will be a while before the view through the windshield of a Buick looks anything like a pilot’s head-up display in an F-16.
The windshield is designed specifically for older drivers, who have vision problems at a much higher rate than other age groups.
Currently, 12.4 percent of the population is 65 or older, but by 2030, that percentage is projected to jump to 20 percent, or 71.5 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.