Come on feel the noise!

Greetings everyone!  I'm Nico Trimoff, manager of accessibility and transcription services at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Today, I have a great article to share with you thanks to Christian Haig.  This one talks about the development of an electronic humming device.  It's attention grabbing and we thank Christian for his contribution!
You can make your contributions by sending us your favorite article to info@sterlingcreations.ca.
I wish you a great day.

 

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A reader's contribution

 

Come on feel the noise!

 

 

 

electronic humming device that is the automaker's answer to complaints that
pedestrians can't hear the top-selling car approaching. The 12,600 yen ($148) speaker
system that goes under the hood of the third-generation Prius sets off a whirring sound designed to be about the same noise level as a regular car engine so that
it isn't annoying, Toyota said Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.
the Prius will no longer be silent but deadly

 

Andrew Clark
Globe and Mail, Aug. 27, 2010

 

 

 

Toyota is out to make some noise. Big T announced last week that it was now possible
for Japanese drivers to install a speaker system under the hood of its third-generation
Prius hybrids. The device, according to Toyota spokespeople, will make an electronic
humming sound similar to the noises flying cars made on the cartoon show The Jetsons. Rumour has it that all new Prius hybrids will now also come with bumper stickers that read "My Other Car is a Car."

 

 

 

But hold on!

 

 

 

People hate traffic noise. Why would Toyota neutralize one of the Prius's great selling
points – its silence – a quality so renowned that was immortalized in an episode of
The Office ("The Prius is silent if he keeps it under 5 mph. He deserves the win.").

 

Ever see a shiny new car and wonder what the stick price is? Use Globe Drive's New Car Search to find out
How much does that new car cost?

 

Use Globe Drive's New Car Search to find car prices, features, specs and more.
View Well, it seems there's a reason cars come equipped with horns and chopper motorcycles
make all that chopping noise. Sound helps alert us humans. Annoying sounds keep us
safe.

 

The Prius, it turns out, was too quiet, especially at low speeds (a Prius can travel
at high speeds?) and pedestrians had trouble hearing the eco-friendly ride approaching.

 

This was causing Prius-person encounters. In fact, a study by the U.S. National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration found that, compared to conventional cars, hybrids travelling at low speeds were twice as likely to be involved in pedestrian
crashes.

 

The blind and aged were particularly at risk. Toyota hopes the new noise maker will
cut down the incidence of Prius/pedestrian collisions.

 

 

 

It's a noble effort by Toyota, though it does not take into account the possibility
that Prius drivers who hit pedestrians at low speeds might simply be trying to help
the environment by eliminating a few humans (who by their very natures pollute).

 

 

 

The big question is: Why a humming noise? Why not get creative? Why not alert pedestrians
and other travellers with a nice sound? Imagine, you're walking along and suddenly
from behind you hear Glenn Gould playing Bach's Goldberg Variations? Instantly, you'd know that you have only three or four minutes to get out of the way before that Prius comes within three or four minutes of hitting you.

 

We have personalized telephone rings; why not have personalized Prius speaker systems?

 

Say you're pissed off about the environment and you want to let everyone know about
it, slap on World Party's Ship of Fools and take your eco-wheels for an indignant rocking ride. Are you a Luddite Prius driver? Have Maxine Nightingale's 1970s classic Right Back Where We Started From playing as you cruise.

 

 

 

Look for other companies such as General Motors and Nissan to introduce similar devices
in their hybrid cars. No specifics have been announced. But in an effort to speed
things along, Road Sage presents a few other noise-making automobiles manufacturers
should consider.

 

Ford Fusion Facebook BFF: When a pedestrian approaches the Ford Fusion's front end,
the car's BFF system pipes up telling her, "I'm friending you. I'm so glad we finally
caught up with each other." Once the pedestrian has passed by and is near the car's
rear end, the Fusion "posts" in a stage whisper, "You have fat ankles and I'm having
an affair with your husband."

 

The Talking Zip Zero: While it's true that Zip cars already come equipped with warning
systems telling other motorists and pedestrians that they are being operated by dangerous
dilettantes – I'm referring to the word "Zip" on the side – the Zip Zero will clear
up any debate. When a Zip Zero automobile exceeds 30 km/h, the speaker system will
begin shrieking "Danger! Danger! Anxious yet energetic sometime driver coming your
way! Take shelter!"

 

Chevy Malibu Hybrid Console: America automobile manufacturers have never been big
on heeding warnings. The Chevy Malibu Console Hybrid follows this noble tradition.
While it won't prevent accidents (or financial crisis) it will instantly go into damage control. Once the Malibu Hybrid has struck another car, for instance, its
speaker system will announce, "You have been hit by a Chevy Malibu Hybrid. We extend
our apologies. However, please take some solace in the fact that less fossil fuel
was consumed in the process of your being struck."

 

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