Need for Noise: Voice-Controlled Race-Cars from Japan
Here’s a really crazy idea from Japan, the result of a collaboration between Japanese companies Kayac, Nissan, TBWA, Hakuhodo, and Bandai Namco. Voice Driver Cup was developed to promote Nissan’s Fair Lady 370Z. It’s essentially a racing game where the driver competes with his voice, making his or her best car sounds which are directly translated into propulsion. The louder you yell, the faster your car goes.
The electronic circuit design and program was developed by a Kayac engineer, and the car's body is based on the Fair Lady Z. The track is 60 meters in length which should make for exciting (and very noisy) competitions.
In addition to this amazingly geeked-out race car set-up, there will also be an app coming soon to allow people around the world to participate in a voice driving game remotely.
You can check out the video below for a demonstration of how this works. I really hope they commercialize this and sell it to Hot Wheels!
If you happen to be in Japan, you can check out the free public Japan GP event at Nissan headquarters in Yokohama this Saturday. The week after that, will be the World GP event, which will happen live on Ustream.