New invention for auto side mirror

Exclusive First Video: A Sideview Mirror Without Blind Spots | This Could Be Big - Yahoo! News

Not an especially sexy topic but this guy, a math professor, came up with a mirror that reduces blind spot with much less distortion that a fish eye lens.

cool- I looked into getting the european split mirrors for my car - way pricey!!

That is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.

Math rocks!

Only works if people actually use them.
Like the idea.

Damn, I want these.

Someone mentioned that aftermarket might be the big source for business. I dig good mirrors. When I bought by '87 G20 Chev van, it had wussy mirrors, maybe 4" x 5". I found some of the big ones off of an old van - maybe 14" x 5", figured out how to attach them, and put the little fish eye mirrors on the bottom of both sides. I'd put these little guys on the bottom real easy.

Um, haven't the Germans figured this out a decade ago with their aspheric mirrors? I've been using them for years on the X3 and 325i, and whenever I drive a US-spec car now I feel completely blind on the left side.

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Um, haven't the Germans figured this out a decade ago with their aspheric mirrors? I've been using them for years on the X3 and 325i, and whenever I drive a US-spec car now I feel completely blind on the left side.

Guess you didn't read the article?

This has a wider view without the distortion of the aspheric mirrors.

Sent from my LG Revolution 4G using BimmerApp

Originally Posted by E36 Phantom

Guess you didn't read the article?

This has a wider view without the distortion of the aspheric mirrors.

Sent from my LG Revolution 4G using BimmerApp

I don't notice significant distortion on mine except towards the outer edge. I'd have to see one of those in the article in person to make a comparison.

um... i just turn my head a bit. it's free and works better

Both are good. Often enough, mirrors will give you all the info you need. Knowing when not to rely on them is the important part.

Perhaps the guy in the video has come up with a better mirror. But how much better is his mirror than what already exists? European cars have had convex left hand mirrors for many years. However, North American (Canada and US) regulations for the left side mirror state it must be 1:1 (non-convex). I vote that North America move towards Europe's standards for left hand convex mirrors. Note tha the right side mirror can be convex in North America.

Regardless of what mirror is used, 1:1 or convex, correct positioning is crucial. Most people, including the portrayal in the video, have the mirror angled to show the side of the car, which is completely wrong and guaranteed to give you blind spots. The first thing taught in BMW advanced driver training and competent general driver training for our children is how to position your seat and mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

Oscar

I have driven over 10K miles on the autobahn, as recent as May. The concave mirror on the driver's side is unnecessary. It gives a very distorted view of how far a car to the left of you is, particularly when you want move into the fast lane to pass a slower car in the right lane. Then, in Germany cutting someone off in the fast lane, forcing the faster car to slow, is pretty much accepted. WTF? He is going 200km/hr, and you are moving into the fast lane to pass a slower car going 120km/hr in the right hand lane. Obviously, that poor guy behind you in the fast lane has to slow down. That's how it is in Germany. Not very acceptable in the USA.