September 29, 2005 Driving when you are in danger of falling asleep is one of the most dangerous pastimes imaginable. Most of us have been there at some stage for probably a host of different reasons, and through circumstance, accumulated sleep deficit, whatever, it’s akin to playing Russian roulette except you’re not just gambling your own life but those of your fellow road users. For years there has been talk of research yielding such devices for the marketplace, but this is the first we’ve seen that can be purchased. The DD850 Driver Fatigue Monitor from EyeAlert is a fatigue/sleep deprivation warning device. When the ambient light drops below 50 lux the DD850 infrared camera/sensors begin to monitor the driver’s eye closure rate and duration and if the driver begins exhibiting unsafe patterns, it sounds an alarm. For professional drivers, it’s a tool of the trade – for everyone else who uses the road and regularly drives long hours at night, it’s an US$849insurance policy that won’t need renewing every year.

The DD850 is small, portable and has just become available and the company is shipping anywhere in the world. Eye Alert is also seeking international distribution.