“The Smart Jacket,” outerwear that prevents cyclists from using their mobile phones when riding while also acting as a routing guide and a safety “sign” that allows those traveling around the riders to move with caution. Lights on the jacket’s sleeve will then light up when they need to turn, while 300 led lights on the back of the jacket act as an indicator for following motorists. The jacket, designed by Vodafone in Holland and Dutch technology firm Magic Bullet, wouldn’t replace hand signals or looking over your shoulder. “When you look behind you it has two effects; it tells you whether it is clear to go and it also signals to everyone behind you that you are about to do something.”
“The prototype jacket was packed with electronics and the batteries are a bit heavy [but] there are definitely people like me who are interested in safety who will spend money on something like this if they can make it practical,” he said.
Vodafone NZ consumer director Matt Williams said the jacket was a “great example of what was possible” in a world where everything was connected.
The idea should prove especially useful in Amsterdam, where according to research from the brand and the Dutch Cyclist Association, about 40% of bike riders use phones while on the road. Not so sure whether many South African cyclists Ride and Talk on Cellphones.
