| Inventor 2 ~Safe Driving System |
January 30, 2020
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| A woman who was in her late 20s or early 30s, along with a boy, came to the inventor's office and told him her concerns: Recently she lost confidence in her ability to drive a car. She had a small car and had used it for her everyday life: going to the supermarket, taking her son to his kindergarten, etc. Originally, she drove carefully. She wasn't a daring driver, because she usually drove with her son. No speeding. But, recently, she hit another car, two times in a row. The owners, both men, were good people and didn't charge her for the fixing cost, saying the damages were only scratches. She thanked them very much, but after that she became very nervous about driving. She thought that it would be terrible if she hit a human being the next time, it could be a kid like her son. She looked at her son, who looked naughty but yet innocent. She added, "We can't afford to buy a new car which has some new safety systems." He stated, "But, as you know, in this country you can't change a car without permission of the government." She replied, "I've heard of a system for elderly people that helps them not to mistake the  accelerator for the brake, although I've never mistaken it." I heard of your reputation, you are on the side of weak people, like a woman who has a small kid." Being stared at, he couldn't say no to her, so he promised to make something and asked her to come again one week later. He had a driver's license, but didn't have a car. The last time that he drove was several months ago. When he once had a car, he sometimes hit something. Once when he drove to his parents' house, he hit their gate. It was a new car. He was very shocked. He started to think about the solution. The mother mentioned about some new cars having safety systems. He watched a CM about a car that sensed a person and stopped automatically; or, when going backwards, the car stopped because it sensed a wall. He checked about this accident prevention system on the internet. A gadget was set to the harness of the brake, and if the driver stepped on the accelerator strongly, the system would activate and slow down the speed. It seemed like a simple system. Especially for old people, especially when they are going in reverse, they might step on the accelerator too strongly. "But ..." he thought, "Won't automation make up for people's carelessness? In her case, it happened from just carelessness from being absent-minded when busy or distracted by her kid. It shouldn't be such a big deal ..." One week later, the mother came to the inventor's office with her son. He handed her a gadget, it was like a wrist-band, and he started to explain about it. When his explanation was finished, her face was stiff and she asked, "That's it?" He nodded. She said, "But... but I don't think this is ..." He stopped her and said that she didn't need to keep it if she didn't like it after a one week trial. When they left, the boy shouted at the door, "Sesame!" And the door was closed. The inventor sighed. Going to the parking lot, she opened the door of the passenger's seat and made her son get in and sit. She sat down and said to herself, "He's not taking me serious as I am a young woman with a kid." She turned the key. As the engine started, a male voice sounded from her wrist, "Sesame." Her sigh was deep. One week had passed. On this day he easily recognized the family by the boy's familiar voice, "Sesame!" when they opened the door. The mother was smiling. She sat on the sofa with her son and started to explain: "At first, I didn't think this would work, but it worked! When I stopped at the intersection and restarted my car the 'sesame' voice sounded. I hated it but I remembered that you said I should be careful when I heard this word. I looked around and then started slowly. When I put on the blinker when I turned right, the voice 'sesame' sounded, it made me remember again that I should check whether or not there were oncoming cars or if there were people on the crosswalk. Every time my car started, every time my car moved, the word 'sesame' happened. I wondered how this wrist thing could notice my actions. Anyways, every time when the voice sounded, I could concentrate on the scene. I didn't think this would work so much." She breathed deeply and continued, "You know what! When I was driving last night, when I was about to turn right, I felt something wrong. I didn't understand but I didn't move my car. Suddenly a car passed right through the intersection. The car didn't have its headlights on! If I hadn't heard 'sesame' at that time, I may have started and got into an accident. You saved our lives!" She looked at her son. He said, "Sesame!" She added, "When my car came to a crosswalk, my son started to say 'sesame' every time. I don't think this gadget recognizes crosswalks, right? The inventor laughed, "Yeah. It only catches your action to start your car, to use blinkers, etc." She added, "And as a by-product, my son became careful to cross roads, saying 'sesame' before crossing. Thank you. By the way, is 'sesame' an abbreviation of 'Secure-Safety- Mechanism' or something like that? My husband was curious." The inventor just said, "Kind of." When they left, the boy said again, "Sesame!" The inventor replied, "Sesame!" making a salute. 'Sesame' was just from "Open Sesame." But he hoped that people would be more open to be careful with themselves. |
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*dare :大胆な
*naughty :腕白な
*afford :余裕のある
*solution :解決法
*prevention :回避
*harness :安全具
*activate :作動する
*reverse :逆
*make up for :補う
*absent-minded :ぼやっとしている
*distract :気をそらす
*blinker :ウィンカー
*by-product :副産物
*abbreviation :省略形
*mechanism :機構
*salute :敬礼する
*Open sesame :開けゴマ
*open :率直な