Posted on: Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Wake-up call in works for tired drivers

By Edward C. Baig
USA Today

It's the middle of the night and you're alone, driving along a monotonous stretch of highway. Your eyes are growing heavy. You are an accident waiting to happen.

Suddenly, a voice barks out: "Tell me the name of the first person you ever dated" or "Where is it that you work?" If you're slow to respond or give an incorrect answer, the car turns into a virtual alarm clock on wheels.

A window opens, the horn honks or the radio changes stations and raises the volume. You may be read aloud a pop trivia quiz or told a joke. Or even sprayed with water.

If all that isn't enough to rouse you, the system may book you a motel room or direct you to the nearest rest stop.

Seem far-fetched? IBM researchers were recently granted a patent for an Artificial Passenger "telematics" system, a gaggle of wireless safety, security, communications and entertainment services in a car that would help keep fatigued drivers out of danger. Big Blue telematics guru Raj Desai said cars could be outfitted with a variation of the system within three years.

The ultimate cost of the system will be left to the manufacturer or provider. IBM's breakthrough is in detecting when the person at the wheel is about to enter la-la land. Drowsy drivers are identified via a combination of speech and dialogue software. Slurred speech and changes in pitch are giveaways. Dashboard cameras also may pick up lip or eye movements.

The technology is speaker-independent. But you'll also be able to personalize the system so Artificial Passenger will know the name of that first love and what it will take to wake you up, a spritz of H20, perhaps.