Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

How Germany Is Dealing With Smartphone-Distracted Pedestrians

By Janine E. Mooney | April 29, 2016

Share

I want to tell you that I never use my smartphone while driving or walking down the street, but that would be a bold-faced lie.

For most, including myself, it’s inevitable. With the way of the world today, we’re constantly glued to our smartphones. For me, I’m either answering work emails or talking strategy on the phone with a disheartened softball parent (but, that’s a story for another day…).

When you’re driving down the highway on your smartphone, you’re putting yourself and other drivers at risk. When you’re driving or walking through a busy city on your phone, it can be even worse.

As a driver or pedestrian, you’re often dodging (other) pedestrians, street lights, unruly drivers, just to mention a few. Hence why on April 20, 2016, Augsburg, Germany began giving in-road pedestrian lights a try.

The LED light strips are integrated into the surface of the road, right off of the curb. They are visible strips, even from a distance, that have been embedded at crosswalks near two tram stops.

When a tram is approaching the station, the light strips flash red so pedestrians (on their smartphones) pay attention to the road, and steer clear of the track. The light strips are powered using the existing pedestrian light poles, and receive signals from the poles about when to flash, both of which are done wirelessly.

Stadtwerke Augsburg, the company which provides the city with its energy, water, and traffic services, is administering the trial. They believe that the proliferation of smartphones has resulted in a greater degree of safety issues caused by smartphone-distracted pedestrians on a global scale. A statement that I very much agree with.

The technology is aimed to determine whether or not installing LED strips into roadways could improve pedestrian (and potentially even driver) safety. As of now there is no set end date. Stadtwerke Augsburg plans to monitor the new LED additions until they feel as though enough data has been obtained. Once the data is recorded and analyzed, the company will decide if implementing this new technology is sensible.


Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)

 

Related Articles Read More >

Part 6: IDE and other software for connectivity and IoT design work
Part 4: Edge computing and gateways proliferate for industrial machinery
Part 3: Trends in Ethernet, PoE, IO-Link, HIPERFACE, and single-cable solutions
Machine Learning for Sensors

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Renishaw next-generation FORTiS™ enclosed linear encoders offer enhanced metrology and reliability for machine tools
  • WAGO’s smartDESIGNER Online Provides Seamless Progression for Projects
  • Epoxy Certified for UL 1203 Standard
  • The Importance of Industrial Cable Resistance to Chemicals and Oils
  • Optimize, streamline and increase production capacity with pallet-handling conveyor systems
  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development

Design World Podcasts

June 12, 2022
How to avoid over engineering a part
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings