Categories
Automotive Cell Phone Accessories Safety

Buoy protects loved ones from texting temptation in the car

The Premise. Texting and driving is a scourge affecting us all. Few drivers haven’t been tempted by the opportunity to compose a text or check e-mail while sitting at an intersection or navigating down a road, despite increasing technological and legislative attempts to curb such dangerous behavior. Admirable as these attempts have been, they haven’t addressed the fundamental root of the problem: the phone being in the driver’s hands at all.

The Product. Buoy, a sleek dock that mounts to the dashboard of your vehicle, is looking to confront that problem head-on. Using a patented system of proximity sensors, either within a newly manufactured car or an already functioning car with a built in docking station, The product can always detect when the driver’s cell phone is in the car. After a set amount of time, an alarm sounds accompanied by a flashing light to urge the driver to place their phone back in its designated position in the dock. By applying the idea of using behavioral cues similar to seat belt alarms to influence driver actions, DNJ Innovations is looking to position itself as a necessity rather than just an option to major car manufacturers.

The Pitch. Their campaign video not only shows off the 3D-printed Buoy prototype, but the final retail model in all its sleek glory, too. It also clearly explains everything from the legal issues DNJ Innovations had in mind when constructing Buoy to its ultimate goal of getting it into every car manufactured. Their 50 day campaign funding goal of $110,000 will support a full scale production run in the immediate future.

The Perks. The expected retail price for Buoy will be $149.99, but the various perks DNJ Innovations is offering cuts that price down. There’s an early bird special that nets you a Buoy in black for $95 and another, more general perk that does the same for $115. You can choose a different colored Buoy for $125, with bulk options of five or 10 Buoys for $500 and $850. The ultimate perk at $10,000 grants you the opportunity to both meet and talk business with the developers.

The Potential. DNJ Innovations has hit the nail on the head with this idea by approaching it with the kind of thinking that makes the idea itself seem completely obvious after you’ve heard it. In an industry trending heavily towards voice control in the car as a solution to using cell phones while driving, DNJ Innovations has taken a step back to take a look at the problem from fresh angles with Buoy as its result. Both the level of safety Buoy provides along with its relative simplicity should prove extremely attractive to major car manufacturers, as there’s no worry about the potential licensing and/or software issues other, more complicated systems present.

Categories
Automotive

The Sidekick cuts glare from car dome lights, could save your dome

TheSidekickWhile nighttime is usually the best time for family travel excursions with kids, there are still those occasions when the kids just won’t go to sleep in the car. The Sidekick eliminates dome light glare for the driver through the use of a durable PVC plastic shield that can be installed in a matter of a few seconds to any vehicle dome light or map light. It seems like a great idea as long as there is someone old enough to install it while on the road, particularly since it doesn’t require mounting an extra reading light. Otherwise, the driver will need to pull off somewhere since it appears to require two hands and some of the driver’s attention to install. For $10, backers get one product and an expected delivery of September 2014.

Categories
Automotive Organization

Cargo Net Tie-Down keeps your truck’s load in place

Cargo Net Tie-DownPick-up or road truckers all know that when transporting goods, you need to have a safe way of tying them down. If your cargo goes flying all over the highway it’s game over. Standard securing methods are fairly flimsy and don’t promise the peace of mind desired. The Cargo Net Tie-Down uses a unique grid pattern in its ropes and anchors to securely contain items on a truck or flatbed. One 24”x 36” version of the product will cost backers $75 for delivery in December 2014. The Cargo Net Tie-Down has a huge goal of $335,000 set for its month-long Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Automotive Kids/Babies Safety

Babeep braces brains to remember backseat babies

The Premise. As summer approaches, there are dangers that we must deal with that are related to heat. Cars heat up extremely quickly when left out in the sun. Many parents absentmindedly leave their children behind in hot cars, resulting in dangerous conditions for the child. 

The Product. Babeep is an alert device that reminds parents, guardians and babysitters to check their cars before locking up and walking away. This Israeli product plugs directly into the car’s outlet and even has a USB port on the side for charging phones. When the car starts, the Babeep flashes green. When the car is turned off, it flashes red and plays a prerecorded baby sound to remind the driver that a baby is onboard. 

The Pitch. Babeep’s campaign is riddled with terrifying facts of child neglect and death rates. It even features a news story of one such incident. The campaign video shows a dramatization of this occurrence that makes the vignettea little bit more horror than informational. Still, the campaign does a great job in creating a sense of urgency for this product in parents and guardians. Babeep is looking to raise a huge $300,000 in its month and a half long Indiegogo campaign.

The Perks. Early backers will receive the Babeep for $35 or $38 at a regular price. Higher tiers offer multi packages for families with several cars. The highest tier at $15,000 promises to donate 500 Babeeps to new moms in hospitals across the country. Lower tiers have an estimated delivery date of March 2015. 

The Potential. As the campaign explains, there are several ways that parents have tried to battle the leaving-the-kid-in-the-car problem, but none are effective when the driver is distracted. Some are simply tags that the parent is supposed to remember to use, like the Baby Bee Safe, but how is a parent going to remember a piece of plastic if they can’t remember their own kid? Others are more high tech like the ChildMinder which senses if a child is in the back and then beeps if the child separated by the parent by more than 15 feet. The Babeep seems to be the simplest, most effective of these options. It requires little action and works automatically which is perfect for the kind of parent or guardian who might accidentally leave their child behind. 

Categories
Automotive

RoofScope mountable mirror keeps an eye on your cargo

RoofScopeCarrying items on a car roof rack is convenient when a pick-up truck isn’t an option, but pricy if the driver forgets that the cargo is up there and zooms through a height restriction warning. Such was the case for a couple of hungry cyclists whose focus was overcome by their growling stomachs and the restaurant that was just up ahead. Hence: the invention of RoofScope. The mountable mirror acts as a constant reminder for the driver to mind height restriction warnings, and also provides for a quick and easy glance to make certain that cargo is remaining secured. For £30, backers get one product and an expected delivery of November 2014.

Categories
Automotive

Swift Shade is made to block sun, snow, ice, thieves

Swift ShadeWhen a vehicle owner is out and about on a hot day, parking in a garage is not always an option. And in the dead of winter, digging out a vehicle and deicing it is an inconvenience that can take a terribly long time. Swift Shade offers a solution for both situations. In the summer, it can lower the temperature inside the vehicle 50-90 degrees. In the winter, it blocks snow and ice from gathering on windows. The wraparound product also has a built in alarm for deterring theft. For $200, backers get one product designed for a standard truck, or $400 for customization. Expected delivery is August 2014.

Categories
Automotive Tools

QuickTrick SL/SLX helps keeps your tires aligned

The Premise. Out of whack steering can be scary when you’re driving. Bumps, potholes, hitting curbs or everyday wear and tear can mess up your wheel’s alignment over time. It can be costly and time-consuming to bring your car to the mechanic in order to have the alignment checked.

The Product. The QuickTrick SL is a wheel alignment diagnostic system. The product attaches easily to your wheel on the ground, so no lift is needed. It comes with a digital reader that uses arrows to alert the user whether or not the wheel needs to be realigned. The product is made of metal and is about the size of a tire iron, making it easy to store in the car itself if needed.

The Pitch. The campaign opens with a high-quality video showing the QuickTrick being manufactured as well as narrative from the creator about the inspiration for the product. She goes on to explain in detail how to use the product. The rest of the campaign shows testimonials for people who like the QuickTrick and different statistics about the U.S.’s high rate of tire use. QuickTrick hopes to raise $28,250 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. Early backers can nab a first production-run QuickTrick SL for $145 with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. Later backers will receive the QuickTrick for a $195 donation in August 2014. The highest $5,500 reward tier offers a trip to Alabama as well as accommodations. The creators plan to use the money from the stretch goal toward attending and competing in a large automotive venue new products competition.

The Potential. While the Internet offers a slew of “home remedies” for diagnosing alignment problems, all depend on feeling instead of hard data. The QuickTrick SL is a great way to save a trip to the mechanics by doing a simply diagnostic all by yourself. The reliability of the instrument is unknown, but if it is completely accurate, the QuickTrick will no doubt enjoy success on the automobile accessory market. 

Categories
Automotive

StickOut graphics offer colorful car customizing

StickOutThere are some people in this world who just aren’t satisfied with the status quo of having a car that’s as dull as all one or two colors. So StickOut takes the boring and transforms it into alluring. Multicolored graphics are splashed across car bodies via a unique interface, as well as images that are printed and cut for a precision fit on nearly any type of car. Something less than a full car wrap and less permanent than paint, he do-it-yourself kit includes all the necessary materials, including a 3M application squeegee and instructions.  This trend could very well yield the Fathead of the car industry. Backers can spruce up their cars for as little as $45. Designs are bigger and bolder with larger donations. Expected delivery is August 2014.

Categories
Automotive Displays

Drivemotion Animator uses rear-window flashings to start, stop road rage

The Premise. When driving, sometimes it’s necessary to communicate with other drivers. Whether you want to thank them, flip them off or even flirt with them, one can risk distraction.

The Product. The Drivemotion Animator is a round screen full of LEDs that suctions to the back windshield of a car. It displays messages to drivers behind you. The messages are controlled from a remote that’s attached to the front windshield of the car. The product has pre-programmed messages such as “Thank you”, “Sorry”, and an assortment of smiley or sad faces. An accompanying software program also lets you program in your very own messages and animations.

The Pitch. Drivemotion Animator’s video shows how to use the software program that goes with the product along with the creator’s explanation of why one may want to flirt with other drivers. The rest of the campaign goes through prototypes as well as pledge levels and possible messages to program the Animator with. The Drivemotion Animator hopes to raise a modest $5,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. For different donation amounts, backers can receive the Drivemotion with different amounts of freedom. The $45 level gets backers the Drivemotion “Pure faces” that comes with a series of emoticon faces. For $59, the Drivemotion EX-version comes with faces that become more intense upon pushing a button repeatedly. To create unique animations, backers must shell out $67 and up. Reward levels have estimated delivery dates of June and July 2014.

The Potential. Where once car passengers had to handwrite signs to other drivers, they can now use the Drivemotion Animator. The use of a simple remote control makes it mostly harmless in navigating parking lots or roads with sparse traffic, one can only imagine what the less courteous on the road might animate. Flirting and road rage messages are especially disruptive and should probably be avoided. All in all, it’s probably a better for drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel than sending a smiley to the cutie they just cut off.

Categories
Automotive Camping

Motorcycle Teardrop Camper follows riders to the great outdoors

Motorcycle Teardrop CamperHiking and camping can be some of the best spent vacation time. And if it’s possible to do it economically, maybe even with a motorcycle or other fuel efficient vehicle, that can make it so much the better. The Motorcycle Teardrop Camper is probably the closest thing to a Vespa you can live in. The goal of this project’s creator is for a small, 400-pound camper to be able to be hitched to a motorcycle or economy vehicle such as a hybrid for some grand adventures in the great outdoors, but it’s still pretty early in the game. Backers will get a production credit on this product when it becomes available if they are willing to contribute at least $1,000.