Blacklight and Beemers
April 1, 2005 3:31 PM Subscribe
A while ago, BMW started playing with UV / blacklight bulbs in its cars. What happened? [possibly UK-centric question]
the idea was a great one, so I assume they went ahead with it, yet i've never seen a car with blacklight obviously showing. Were they released in the UK? My google searches come up blank.
I'm guessing there was a legal problem with them (being nearly blue) yet every 12 year old has suddenly put blue lights all over his SR Nova, so is it worth trying? Where does one get hold of bright UV lamps at car voltages?
the idea was a great one, so I assume they went ahead with it, yet i've never seen a car with blacklight obviously showing. Were they released in the UK? My google searches come up blank.
I'm guessing there was a legal problem with them (being nearly blue) yet every 12 year old has suddenly put blue lights all over his SR Nova, so is it worth trying? Where does one get hold of bright UV lamps at car voltages?
it tends to make objects glow - so road markings and clothing lights up significantly farther away than if it were illuminated by standard headlights.
UV makes some things glow, but not most. Road signs are already highly reflective with normal headlights; I think more brightness would be blinding. White clothing tends to glow brightly in UV, but dark clothing doesn't. If you got used to seeing people wearing white at extreme range, that Goth kid in your path would be quite a surprise.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:13 PM on April 1, 2005
UV makes some things glow, but not most. Road signs are already highly reflective with normal headlights; I think more brightness would be blinding. White clothing tends to glow brightly in UV, but dark clothing doesn't. If you got used to seeing people wearing white at extreme range, that Goth kid in your path would be quite a surprise.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:13 PM on April 1, 2005
I believe chronic exposure to UV lights has been found to contribute to the formation of cataracts.
posted by Fupped Duck at 5:20 PM on April 1, 2005
posted by Fupped Duck at 5:20 PM on April 1, 2005
Best answer: I think you're talking about a proposed system for the 7-series that would use UV light and sensors to superimpose an image of things outside your range of vision on a heads-up display across the windscreen at night.
They're still working on it, as far as I know.
posted by bonaldi at 1:01 AM on April 2, 2005
They're still working on it, as far as I know.
posted by bonaldi at 1:01 AM on April 2, 2005
I think you're talking about a proposed system for the 7-series that would use UV light and sensors to superimpose an image of things outside your range of vision on a heads-up display across the windscreen at night.
IR light would work much better, I think.
posted by delmoi at 10:47 AM on April 2, 2005
IR light would work much better, I think.
posted by delmoi at 10:47 AM on April 2, 2005
Quite a few years ago I did see the idea of using blacklights in addition to regular car headlights on Tomorrow's World, or perhaps some program on the discovery channel. It has been considered anway (though the non-visible light + sensors might be more effective. However, if you're going that route, why not use sonar instead?).
posted by fvw at 6:18 PM on April 2, 2005
posted by fvw at 6:18 PM on April 2, 2005
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The concept was that you could have sigificantly higher wattage (and therefore throw) without blinding outher drivers because the light was virtually invisble, however it tends to make objects glow - so road markings and clothing lights up significantly farther away than if it were illuminated by standard headlights.
Sorry if I didn't explain very well.
posted by twine42 at 3:44 PM on April 1, 2005