Picitup (www.picitup.com), a provider of machine vision solutions, announced the launch of iOnRoad, a Smartphone app that warns drivers of encroaching danger and helps drivers make smarter driving decisions.
Talking on the phone, texting, surfing the internet and a host of other activities have become a part of the driving experience for an untold number of drivers around the world. This has led many states within the US to legislate laws forbidding activities that cause drivers to become 'distracted.' According to a 2010 US poll conducted by InsuranceQuotes.com, 93 percent of drivers engage in distracted driving. Not surprising is the fact that distracted driving is now a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes.
"iOnRoad has turned the usual association that smartphones and driving are a toxic combination, on its head," said Alon Atsmon, CEO at Picitup. "The iOnRoad app saves lives using all of the native technologies on almost any Smartphone today."
iOnRoad is an app that uses the Smartphone's native camera and sensors to detect the vehicles in front of the driver, and will alert users when they are in danger. Similar to a visual radar, the iOnRoad app constantly maps the range of the objects in front of the driver in real-time, considering the user's current speed. As the risk crosses a certain threshold, a visual warning will pop up along with a sound alert to warn the driver of a possible collision, allowing them take action. According to CEO Atsmon, "iOnRoad is the first wide-scale use of computer vision available as a mobile driving app."
Using a car mount for their Smartphone, users can set the iOnRoad app in either the "Augmented Reality" mode, similar to the HUD system that pilots use to display mission critical information or "Background" mode, where the application can run behind another app, only alerting when it needs to warn the driver of danger. This setting allows users to access their GPS or use their loudspeaker. To learn more about iOnRoad visit the website at www.ionroad.com.
