From Automobiles to Health Hubs: The Future of Car Health Monitoring

Past and Present: What Cars Have Been Asked to Deliver – A Missing Piece

Let’s reflect on the history of what has been demanded from automobiles and seek an important perspective that is missing.

What Have People Sought From Cars?

Motorization is said to have revolutionized daily life and economic activities, altering the very structure of society. What have people sought from cars? The demands placed on automobiles have evolved and expanded over time. This trend becomes clear when looking at the timeline of automotive progress presented at the end of this chapter.

The Essence of Cars: “Freedom of Movement”

Cars, in the 18th and 19th centuries, advanced beyond traditional modes of transport like horses, horse-drawn carriages, and bicycles as faster and farther-reaching means of travel. Entering the 20th century, mass motorization progressed. Automobiles were welcomed by the masses for providing individuals with the freedom to move without depending on public transportation schedules and routes, offering the liberty to go anywhere as long as there was a road.

After Gaining Freedom: “Fun” and “Self-Expression”

As cars became more reliable and mass production along with cost reduction made them accessible to the general public, their proliferation advanced. Subsequently, automobiles became status symbols, with speed, power, style, and design becoming desirable attributes. This can succinctly be described as self-expression through cars.

“Safety” Becomes a Priority

Eventually, with the increase in automobile accidents, there came a demand for safety. Designs that mitigate the impact on passengers in the event of a collision, along with safety features like seat belts and airbags, were developed and introduced, with legislation following suit.

Currently Focused on “Eco-Friendliness”

The escalating carbon dioxide emissions from human economic activities have been identified as a primary driver of global warming, which in turn contributes significantly to environmental degradation. This growing awareness of the interconnected impact has led to a global sense of crisis, catalyzing the shift towards more sustainable transportation options. This has spurred the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which emit no carbon dioxide, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional gasoline vehicles, alongside a growing anticipation for the proliferation of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). FCVs, often heralded as the ultimate eco-cars, utilize hydrogen to operate, further aligning with environmental sustainability goals.

Approaching the Near Future: “Autonomous Driving”

The development of autonomous driving technology, which frees the driver from the task of driving, is advancing towards practical application and widespread use in the near future. The widespread adoption of full autonomous driving is expected to prevent traffic accidents, alleviate congestion, and provide various positive effects due to liberation from driving.

Focusing on the “Health” of Drivers and Passengers

Amidst these developments, one piece remains insufficiently addressed: the “health” of those inside the vehicle. While cars are technological marvels, they are operated by flesh-and-blood humans. Safety compromises can immediately threaten the lives of passengers, making safety measures understandable and sought after by people. On the other hand, health is gradually compromised by daily actions, potentially leading to diseases that threaten brain and cardiovascular health, making the relationship between cars and health less visible. However, cars have become the central mode of commute worldwide. Because it’s a daily activity, the impact on health is significant. Why is the perspective of “health” necessary for cars? How can introducing a health perspective into cars make the world better? These are the questions we aim to answer.

Cars: The Most Unhealthy Commuting Method

Cars Offer Freedom of Mind, But Not of Body

While cars offer unparalleled freedom of movement, they paradoxically restrict physical freedom. The ability to steer oneself to any desired destination epitomizes the ultimate freedom of the mind. However, when cars become the primary means of commuting, especially for long durations, the narrative changes. Drivers are subjected to physical and mental stress, maintaining nearly the same posture throughout the journey, constantly alert to the road and surrounding traffic. Encountering rush hour traffic can exacerbate frustration. While music or hands-free communication can provide a distraction, they do not mitigate the physical toll. Imagine the cumulative effect of this daily routine.

Car Commuting: The Least Walking Involved

Moreover, car commuting is essentially door-to-door, involving minimal walking. At most, one might walk from the company parking lot to the office. This routine significantly reduces daily physical activity compared to walking, cycling, or even commuting by train or bus.

The Health Risks of Long Commutes by Car

Car commuting is the most common mode of commuting worldwide. The health risks associated with long car commutes are becoming increasingly evident, highlighting a significant public health concern. These risks include cardiovascular diseases, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health issues.

For more details, visit [REDEFINING MOBILITY: HARNESSING OUR DAILY COMMUTES FOR BETTER HEALTH]

Can New Car Technologies Improve Unhealthiness? – Autonomous Driving and Flying Cars

Autonomous Driving Increases Temporal Freedom but Does Not Significantly Enhance Physical Freedom

Will people become freer with autonomous driving? The answer is yes and no. On one hand, achieving Level 5 autonomous driving, where the system fully handles the driving, would liberate drivers from the tasks of driving and monitoring road conditions, allowing for more freedom in how time is spent during the commute. In other words, it increases freedom of the mind and activities during travel. However, physically, occupants are still confined to a small space without the ability to walk around. While it may be possible to remove all seats to allow for the driver to stretch, the need for seats and seatbelts to secure the driver due to the vehicle’s high-speed movement means that they remain essential. Therefore, even though the flexibility in seat design may increase, the elimination of seats and seatbelts is unlikely. A potential solution could be installing a pedal exercise machine in the foot space, previously occupied by the brake and accelerator pedals, allowing for some physical activity. However, exercising in a moving vehicle is an unexplored territory, raising questions about comfort and the risk of motion sickness.

Flying Cars: Potential for Reduced Travel Time but No Increase in Physical Activity

Should flying cars become a reality, the impact on health may vary depending on whether they are autonomous or not, yet the same constraints as traditional cars in terms of physical confinement might apply. Actually, even more so, the potential for accidents with flying cars, including the disastrous consequences of falling from the sky, could necessitate even more advanced safety features in driver seats and seat belts, potentially increasing the physical restraint on occupants. However, on the flip side, if these vehicles can travel at double the speed of ground-based cars, commuting times could be cut in half, potentially reducing the adverse effects on health. This scenario suggests a trade-off where enhanced safety measures may increase physical constraints, yet the significant reduction in travel time offers a tangible benefit to overall well-being.

Transforming Cars into Health-Monitoring Private Spaces: The Concept of Car Health Monitoring

Despite the transformative potential of these innovations, the fundamental issue of sedentariness associated with commuting remains unaddressed. Therefore, while technological advancements in transportation, such as autonomous and flying cars, bring numerous benefits, they do not directly tackle the health challenges posed by the increasing sedentary lifestyle of modern society. However, by shifting our perspective and considering the automobile in a different light, we can actively explore ways to improve the relationship between cars and health.

Turning the focus away from merely reducing sedentariness, let’s consider the car not just as a means of transport but as a potential private space for health monitoring. This approach, termed “Car Health Monitoring,” imagines the vehicle as a private room equipped with various health monitoring technologies.

Why Does the Car Make an Ideal Health Monitoring Space?

The car, by its very nature, is a private space, separate from the outside world. While it restricts physical movement, it offers a unique environment that could be well-suited for monitoring health. With the advancements in healthcare technology, the potential exists to transform cars into spaces where health can be continuously assessed and monitored. This is not about replacing the innovation in autonomous or flying cars but adding a layer of health-focused technology to the mix.

Car Health Monitoring: A Pillar of Future Health Monitoring

The future of healthcare is leaning towards continuous, everyday monitoring of both mental and physical health across all facets of life. The car, as part of this ecosystem, could play a pivotal role. It could serve as a key location for gathering health data, which, when combined with information from other aspects of an individual’s life, could offer a comprehensive view of their health.

Imagine a world where cars do more than just transport us. They could monitor our heart rate, stress levels, and even predict potential health issues before they become serious, integrating these insights with data from our homes, workplaces, and public spaces to provide a holistic health overview.

For more details, visit [PURSUING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IS MONITORED: THE WORLD WATCHED OVER BY MOTHER AI]

Car Health Monitoring I: A Strategy to Reduce Accidents

Predictive Monitoring to Decrease Fatal Accidents

Medical Emergencies While Driving as a Cause of Fatal Accidents

Research has revealed that 25% of fatal road accidents occur because drivers suffer ischemic attacks of the heart or brain while driving. This statistic underscores two critical points: first, the high risk of fatal accidents triggered by such medical episodes; and second, the increased mortality risk due to the inability to seek immediate help or the delay in receiving treatment during a solo driving situation. This emphasizes the significance of in-car health monitoring to predict and alert drivers of potential medical emergencies.

For more details, visit [Sudden death at the wheel due to a disease attack]

Cardiovascular Episodes: More Likely in the Morning and Evening

It is well-known that cardiovascular episodes are more likely to occur in the morning and evening. For example, occurrences of cerebral hemorrhage are common around waking hours, in the morning, and in the evening. Ischemic strokes often occur within two hours of waking, subarachnoid hemorrhages are most frequent between 6 a.m. and noon, and myocardial infarctions tend to happen around 8 to 11 a.m. and again from 7 to 10 p.m. These peak times for episodes coincide with typical commuting hours, further underscoring the importance of predictive monitoring within vehicles.

The Importance of In-Car Predictive Monitoring

By analyzing vital signs monitored inside the vehicle in real-time, AI can detect precursors to medical episodes, enabling drivers to pull over safely and call for emergency services in a timely manner. In the future, with the advent of Level 5 autonomous driving, AI will be capable of detecting the precursors to a medical emergency. Upon detection, it can contact emergency services and navigate the vehicle to the nearest capable emergency hospital. This autonomous intervention enables quicker access to necessary medical treatment. This predictive capability of car health monitoring systems, aimed at anticipating health-related emergencies, should be vigorously pursued and integrated into vehicles.

The Potential of Wearable Devices in Predictive Monitoring

Recent advancements in wearable technology have made it possible to monitor vital signs such as heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. Some smartwatches are even capable of measuring blood pressure. These technologies hold promise for the application in detecting precursors to cardiovascular incidents while driving. However, wearable devices have limitations due to their “wearable” nature, which restricts the completeness of vital data they can collect. Although there’s ongoing research into predicting epileptic seizures through smartwatches, the current state of wearable technology for predictive health monitoring, especially for severe conditions like heart attacks or significant arrhythmias, remains in the developmental phase and has yet to reach full practical application.

Built-In Vehicle Sensors: A Superior Alternative to Wearables

Unlike wearable devices, which have inherent limitations in the range and type of biometric data they can collect, the interior of a vehicle offers a larger space for integrating more comprehensive diagnostic devices. Steering wheels and driver’s seats, for instance, can be equipped with advanced sensors to gather more accurate and detailed vital signs than wearable devices. Additionally, the potential for sophisticated monitoring of the heart and brain exists within the vehicle’s environment, making car health monitoring systems potentially more effective at predicting conditions like cardiac and epileptic episodes than wearable technology.

Efforts by Major Automakers to Integrate Vital Monitoring

Historically, several automakers have engaged in research and development, in collaboration with academic institutions, to embed systems capable of measuring electrocardiograms (ECGs) within vehicles. For example, Ford has incorporated ECG measuring devices into driver’s seats, while Toyota developed a mechanism that allows for ECGs to be measured simply by holding the steering wheel. Such initiatives underscore the automotive industry’s commitment to prioritizing driver health. Moving forward, there is a strong desire to further these research efforts, enhancing the capability to monitor a broader range of health information in real-time. By leveraging AI for data analysis, the aim is to advance mechanisms that safeguard driver health more effectively.

For more details, visit Health, safety and well-being in tomorrow’s car​.

Reducing Accident Causes Through Mind Monitoring

Detecting Mental States Leading to Accidents

It’s widely understood among drivers that certain mental states can increase the risk of accidents. These states include irritation, impatience, excitement, distraction by concerns, fatigue, and lack of sleep—common experiences in daily life. Monitoring these mental states in a vehicle could alert drivers to reduced safety attention, potentially preventing accidents.

For example, receiving a notification like “Today’s accident probability: 70%” with “The cause is impatience” could make a driver conscious of their hurried state. They might then communicate a potential delay to their appointment, helping them to drive more calmly and alter their behavior accordingly.

Vehicles as Ideal Monitors for Emotions and Mental States

While driving, drivers generally face forward, maintaining the same position inside the vehicle. By strategically placing video cameras, it’s possible to capture expressions, blink rates, and gaze directions. It’s a common understanding that a person’s emotions and mental states often manifest on their face, especially when alone. By accumulating big data from these recordings and applying AI learning, it becomes possible to discern “the current mental state of the driver” and “changes in the driver’s mental state while driving.” This type of monitoring, which we can call “Car Mind Monitoring,” can significantly enhance driving concentration and prevent accidents by alerting drivers to risky mental states, much like how a friend or partner’s observation can make one aware of their emotional state.

Applying Car Mind Monitoring for Preventing Common Accident Causes

Looking at the causes of traffic accidents in Japan, violations of safety attention duties such as not paying attention ahead, failing to confirm safety, looking aside, neglect of dynamic and static surroundings, driving absentmindedly, and inappropriate driving operations account for the majority. All these causes seem related to the driver’s mental state. Moreover, factors contributing to accidents include human factors, cognitive factors, behavioral factors such as mental illness, personality, and the age of drivers. Mental illness, for example, has been reported to make individuals more prone to accidents. The next step is to gather concrete data on which mental states are most likely to lead to accidents. Car Mind Monitoring, by collecting vast data on mental states and their relation to accidents for analysis, holds the promise of significantly contributing to accident prevention.

Applications of Car Mind Monitoring

1. Preventing Drowsy Driving: Car Mind Monitoring can be easily applied to detect drowsy driving by monitoring eyelid conditions. Since it’s crucial to warn the driver before they actually fall asleep, an alert can be issued upon detecting signs of sleepiness, encouraging drivers to change their behavior and possibly stop driving to rest.
2. Detecting Drunken Driving:
   According to a 2022 study by the Traffic Bureau of the National Police Agency in Japan, the rate of fatal accidents involving drunk driving was 7.1 times higher than those not involving alcohol. Despite being illegal in Japan, drunk driving continues to be a significant issue. Changes in facial expression, skin color, and the slowness of eye movements induced by alcohol can potentially be detected through Car Mind Monitoring. Detecting these changes could lead not only to warnings to drivers but also to systems that prevent the engine from starting, dramatically reducing drunk driving incidents.

The Expectation for Level 5 Autonomous Driving to Eliminate Human-Caused Accidents

Level 5 autonomous driving, which allows for the complete relinquishment of driving tasks to the system, promises to eliminate accidents caused by human error. While the timeline for achieving fully autonomous driving remains uncertain, with some predictions suggesting 2040, Car Mind Monitoring can play a crucial role in reducing accidents until such technology becomes widely available.

Car Health Monitoring II: Utilizing Technology for Work

The Nature of Car-Dependent Societies

In the United States, known for its car-dependent culture, the American Community Survey reveals that 76% of commuters use a car for their daily commute, including 85% when carpooling is considered. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average one-way commute time is 25.5 minutes, resulting in employees spending an average of 200 hours a year commuting, with three out of four doing so in a single-occupancy vehicle. Single-occupancy car commuting is believed to have adverse effects on both business aspects and individual well-being, with car commuters experiencing higher levels of stress and lower job satisfaction compared to their public transportation-using counterparts. Research from the Texas Transportation Institute indicates that commuters in large cities spend an average of about 42 hours a year caught in traffic congestion.

Innovations Reducing the Burdens of Car Commuting

The realization of Level 5 autonomous driving would undoubtedly lessen the stress of car commuting. Imagine being able to close your eyes and listen to music while being chauffeured to work – the reduction in stress is easily conceivable. Furthermore, the advent of flying cars could potentially shorten commute times or eliminate traffic jams, significantly easing commuting stress. These technological innovations in automobiles promise to substantially mitigate the challenges associated with car commuting.

Car Health Monitoring Enhancing Work Performance

If autonomous and flying cars represent innovations that can transform the act of commuting itself, car health monitoring emerges as an innovation that not only reduces accidents while driving but also contributes to influences post-commute work performance.

Why the Car?

In the hustle and bustle of preparing for work, monitoring one’s health often takes a back seat. For many, the commute is the only time when they can relax and reflect on their mental and physical state before starting their workday. Once settled in the car, the commuter transitions from the rush of leaving the house to a space where they can finally take a moment to breathe and assess their wellbeing. In this sense, the car becomes an optimal space for health monitoring before diving into the workday.

How Can Car Health Monitoring Enhance Work?

For instance, individuals with cardiovascular concerns can find reassurance through car health monitoring that confirms their vitals and heart function are stable, allowing them to approach their work with confidence. Should any changes in vitals be detected, AI could offer advice, such as suggesting the individual moderate their work tasks after arriving at the office or contact a healthcare provider, prompting an appropriate response from the driver.

Even for those without chronic conditions, the impact of fatigue and stress on work performance is well-documented. Likewise, negative emotions can strain work relationships and overall job performance. By detecting signs of fatigue, stress, or emotional turmoil through mind monitoring, AI can alert drivers to their current state, encouraging them to take necessary actions to mitigate these feelings before they impact their work.

Transforming Cars into Daily Health Management Hubs

As measurement technologies advance, the potential for cars to serve as daily health monitoring stations grows. Current wearables can track pulse and blood pressure, yet cars offer the space to incorporate more extensive health monitoring equipment. This capability could transform cars into an indispensable part of daily health management, complementing the traditional healthcare setting by providing continuous health data.

Car Health Monitoring III: Enhancing Private Time

The commute home is just as crucial for health monitoring as the morning commute. The day’s accumulated fatigue, stress, and lack of physical activity can significantly impact how one spends their evening. Tailored advice based on the day’s health data could encourage beneficial post-work activities, such as rest and exercise, contributing to better rest and stress management.

Comparing morning and evening health data can offer insights into daily stress and fatigue recovery, guiding more effective personal health management strategies.

Summary

Since the inception of automobiles, the expectations from them have evolved with time, and currently, we are witnessing rapid advancements in mobility innovations such as autonomous driving and flying cars. However, the aspect of health has not been sufficiently addressed yet. It’s well-understood that commuting by car is not conducive to health. We have explored how innovations in autonomous and flying vehicles might ameliorate the health drawbacks associated with car commuting. By reimagining cars as private rooms for health monitoring, we introduce a paradigm shift towards safeguarding both safety and health, a concept we term “Car Health Monitoring.” The benefits of car health monitoring are manifold:

1. Reducing accidents through predictive monitoring of medical episodes that could lead to sudden incapacitation, thereby ensuring safer driving conditions.
2. Mitigating causes of accidents by monitoring drivers’ mental and physical states to prevent conditions conducive to accidents, enhancing overall road safety.
3. Enhancing work productivity by utilizing health data to adapt post-commute work activities and reduce driving-related accidents, contributing to a more efficient and safer work environment.
4. Improving post-commute private time activities by providing tailored health advice based on the day’s data, helping individuals manage stress and fatigue effectively, thereby contributing to better overall well-being.

Cars serve as a tool for transporting people. Moving forward, innovations in automobiles should not only be environmentally conscious but also increasingly focus on monitoring the health of those inside. In the future, health monitoring will be a continuous, 24-hour process that takes place not just in clinics, but across all aspects of life including vehicles, homes, offices, and public spaces. Car health monitoring will become one of the pillars of this future healthcare system, integrating health data from various times and locations to continuously safeguard the well-being of people worldwide. Car health monitoring is poised to become an essential element of the ecosystem for health and well-being.

For more details, visit [PURSUING TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IS MONITORED: THE WORLD WATCHED OVER BY MOTHER AI]