Speed buzz
A study says commuting in a cool car creates ‘‘buzz moments’’ that increase wellbeing.
It’s official: driving a sports or performance car is way better than watching Game of Thrones or kissing your partner.
At least according to Ford, which has published a study that shows driving a sporty car on a daily basis is the best way to boost your sense of wellbeing and emotional fulfilment.
The study measured ‘‘buzz moments’’ – peak thrills that play a vital role in overall wellness – as volunteers cheered on their favourite sports team, watched a gripping GoT episode, enjoyed a passionate kiss with a loved one or took an intense salsa dancing class.
Only the occasional highs of riding a roller coaster ranked higher than the daily buzz of a commute in a sports car.
‘‘This study shows how driving a performance car does much more than get you from A-to-B,’’ says Dr Harry Witchel, Discipline Leader in Physiology.
‘‘It could be a valuable part of your daily wellbeing routine.’’
Study participants who sat behind the wheel of a Ford Focus RS, Focus ST or Mustang experienced an average of 2.1 highintensity buzz moments during a typical commute.
This compared with an average of three buzz moments while riding on a roller coaster, 1.7 on a shopping trip, 1.5 each watching a GoT episode or a football match, and none at all while salsa dancing, fine dining or sharing a passionate kiss.
For the research, Ford took one Focus RS and worked with Designworks to create the Buzz Car. From concept, design and installation to software development and programming, the Buzz Car took 1400 man-hours to create.
Each ‘‘buzz moment’’ experienced by the driver – analysed using a real-time ‘‘emotional AI’’ system developed by empathic technology firm Sensum – produces an animation across almost 200,000 LED lights integrated into the car.
The Buzz Car also features a high-performance Zotac VR GO gaming PC, 110 x 500-lumen daylight-bright light strips and 82 display panels with 188,416 individually configurable LEDs.
Researchers at the Ford Research and Innovation Centre in Aachen, Germany are already looking into how vehicles can better understand and respond to drivers’ emotions.
As part of the EU funded ADAS&ME project, experts are investigating how in-car systems may one day be aware of our emotions – as well as levels of stress, distraction and fatigue – providing prompts and warnings, and could even take control of the car in emergency situations.
Buzz moments
❚ Roller Coaster: 3
❚ Driving: 2.1
❚ Shopping: 1.7
❚ Game of Thrones: 1.5
❚ Football Game: 1.5
❚ Kissing: 0
❚ Salsa Dancing: 0
❚ Dining: 0