Tech Shout!

Professor Ryuta Kawashima who helps Nintendo with its famous Brain Age games is now teaming up with car company Toyota. Together, the companies will develop intelligent cars that will assist senior citizens in driving safely.

According to Kawashima, a Tohoku University scientist who worked on Nintendo’s Brain Age games, “we envision future cars will be able to monitor brain and emotional activity to back up elderly drivers.”

The Brain games series of games were introduced for the Nintendo DS handheld gaming system and helps stimulate the brain by doing simple puzzles and exercises. For those who are familiar with the Brain Age series of games, you will know Prof. Kawashima as the smiling guide throughout the game.

Nintendo and Toyota will develop an intelligent system that can determine the driving patterns of drivers and will help to curb any dangerous activity. For instance, this intelligent system could automatically slow down the car if it senses that the driver is hitting the gas pedal (accelerator) for no reason.

“Ultimately, we hope to develop cars that stimulate brain activity, so that driving itself becomes the form of brain training,” explained Kawashima.

Future developments could see a car navigation system or temperature control system that helps drivers remain alert while driving.

Currently, representatives from Toyota Motor Corp. are attending sessions of Kawashima’s “Mobility and Smart Aging” study group, which the professor sets up each year in May to discuss elderly friendly cars.

Kawashima also added that Toyota and Tohuku University “are done with brainstorming and ready to start making some of the technologies”.

Toyota spokeswoman Kayo Doi confirmed that company engineers were working with Tohuku University but is not yet ready to announce any specific technologies.

Kawashima said that he could not give any further details on this project until it has fully taken up.