Japan showcases cars that talk sense

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

CHIBA, Japan (AFP) — It may seem an unnerving prospect, but the cars of the future could be programmed to talk to you when you are vexed by someone else's driving, recommend you take a rest when you are sleepy or alert you to a possible collision.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, which opened here to the press this week, Nissan unveiled the Pivo 2 concept vehicle with a "robot agent" that can monitor a driver's emotions or physical condition through their facial expressions.

"For example, if the driver is surprised by another car cutting in, the robot agent can tell you, 'Don't worry, you're all right'," said Ken Mitamura, manager of the mobility laboratory at Nissan's research centre.

"When you are sleepy, the robotic interface can detect it by monitoring a very...