In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that bicycles and other pedal-powered vehicles accounted for two percent of traffic crashes. In light of this fact, visibility is crucial in cyclist safety. To help combat this issue, a start up named Lumenus created a smart jacket embedded with LEDs which encompasses the recommended safety features, as well as the option to customize the behavior of those lights for various functions.
Photo source: Digital Trends
The pieces include a heavyweight and lightweight jacket, a vest and a backpack. The user can program the LEDs to respond to a specific action by using the Lumenus app, GPS, mapping (Google Maps API), and gyros An example of this function is syncing the LEDs to stimulate a red brake light when the cyclist comes to a halt.
Photo source: Digital Trends
The Zero UI design (also referred to as non-touchscreen user interfaces) enables the cyclist to be alerted to notifications by the lights, including turn-by-turn navigation, incoming text messages and performance pace lighting. The waterproof and wash-proof apparel contains a battery life that lasts up to 24 hours. The jacket also has a 3M Scotchlite reflective strip for heightened visibility.
Photo source: Digital Trends
The Kickstarter campaign runs until December 29th. The pledges start at $100, which is $150 less than the retail price. Shipments are scheduled for June 2016.
For more information, see the full article here.