Smart handlebars vibrate to tell you when to turn
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Unless you have a superhuman sense of direction, you probably use a smartphone or a GPS unit mounted on your handlebars for a bicycle journey into unknown territory.
But finding your way in a new area is about to get easier, with the advent of vibrating handlebar devices and grips that buzz to tell riders which way to turn.
Called smrtGRiPS, the device is designed to fit any bike and can be paired with a smartphone app to provide directions.
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Gadgets that fit inside a bike's handlebars to make them vibrate to tell a cyclist when to turn, have been invented, allowing riders to keep their eyes on the road and not glues to a map
Engineers are attempting to launch their invention into production on crowdfunding site, Indiegogo.
To fit the smrtGRiPS, a cyclist slots the devices inside the metal tube of the bike's handlebars and a rubber grip fits on top.
Before setting off, a cyclist will choose whether they would like audio as well as haptic - or vibrating - alerts in the dedicated app for Android and Apple phones, before entering the destination in their chosen mapping app.
Once a user has entered their destination in a smartphone app, either the left or right grip will vibrate, indicating which way to turn, to give them directions. If a group of friends have smrtGRiPS, they can also be used to keep them together
Users can locate their bike by using the 'distance indicator' to show its location on a map, or tap the 'ring your ride' button (pictured), which causes the bike to signal its location by vibrating, for example
They can then put their phone back into their pocket or bag and start cycling to get directions without looking at a screen, because the handlebars vibrate.
The company, based in Montreal, Canada, claims this makes cycling safer because cyclists can keep their eyes on the road instead of reading a map on a screen.
Either the left or right grip will vibrate, indicating which way to turn, or for traffic problems.
Vibrations intensify the closer cyclists get to a turning to make sure they select the right road at junctions.
The grips also buzz to notify a cyclist about hazards or traffic issues that lie ahead. Riders can also choose to hear a ringing noise or messages about what to look for.
The device can also help cyclists track their bike and find where they parked it, as well as offer separation alerts if a group with smrtGRiPS is attempting to travel together.
Users can locate their bike by using the 'distance indicator' to show its location on a map, or tap the 'ring your ride' button, which causes the bike to signal its location, for example.
A pair of smrtGRiPs with the rubbery grips is available to pre-order from $69 (£45) from Indiegogo.
Users can check the location of their bike and if it is stolen, their bike will vibrate when it passes near another smrtGRiP user, which, it is hoped, could help the victim get their ride back
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