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Canadian team working on gesture-controlled indicators for cyclists

Kickstarter campaign now underway

A team from Toronto has developed gesture-controlled bike light indicators. Pax Cultura Studios are now looking to raise 8,000 Canadian dollars for their product, known as SIX, via Kickstarter.

The device works in combination with a smartwatch or similar device, identifying when a cyclist is making a hand signal and then activating the appropriate light.

A swipe left or right on the touchscreen of the user’s phone is another way in which indicators can be operated, while a ‘medium-to-fast deceleration’ is said to trigger the brake light.

Two members of the team were hit by vehicles while cycling despite making hand signals. Pax Cultura Studios founder, Justin Girard, said that visibility was a problem in both cases.

"It normalises the appearance of the bike to other drivers on the road," he said of his product. He argues that some motorists aren't familiar with traditional hand signals and would be more likely to notice a flashing light – particularly at night.

Although the team is only looking to raise $8,000 to fund the project, there are a number of other aspects of it that they would like to develop should they raise more. These include support for a greater number of wearable devices, different signal patterns (include one based on KITT from Knightrider) and front, back, left, and right units ‘for the very safe’.

At the time of writing, around $2,500 had been raised with 20 days of the campaign left to run.

Last year we reported on the Lumos helmet, which features built-in indicators and brake lights. The helmet easily surpassed its funding target on Kickstarter and is due to be released in September. A handlebar control operates the indicators while the brake lights function automatically.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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5 comments

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aladdin pain | 8 years ago
1 like

Useless, but then also worrisome when one imagines activating the signal with swipes on a smartphone screen.  On the kind of roads and in the kind of traffic where cyclists are most likely to use this thing, swiping could be enough of a distraction to negate the purported safety enhancements. 

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harrybav | 8 years ago
1 like

Is the first 2.5k real, or do they sometimes pad their own kickstarter to get the punters in, I wonder.

 

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schlepcycling | 8 years ago
2 likes

''He argues that some motorists aren't familiar with traditional hand signals''

Then they shouldn't be driving!!!.

 

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tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
2 likes

"He argues that some motorists aren't familiar with traditional hand signals" 

Really, drivers don't understand that a hand signal left means turning left for example?

 

 

"It normalises the appearance of the bike to other drivers on the road.."

Suuuure. Stuns their reactions as they've just seen something new more like.

 

 

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Darkhairedlord | 8 years ago
4 likes

utter durge

 

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