Make the road a happier place with MotorMood

[Shawn Knight]

The most common gesture from one driver to the next is probably the middle finger. Fortunately, not all drivers are jerks, a reality that one new startup is banking on.

MotorMood recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for a product they hope will make driving a little more human and a lot more fun. MotorMood is an emoji that sticks to the inside of your vehicle’s back window via reusable adhesive mount. Its accompanying IR remote resides on your sun visor like a garage door opener.

Pressing the button activates lights inside the emoji, illuminating it on the outside as a way to thank other drivers at night. Colors include blue, pink and green and are easy to switch out. Each press illuminates MotorMood for six seconds – enough time to give thanks to someone for letting you over without being annoying.

The emoji is powered by four AA batteries that should last the average user about six months. The remote takes a coin-style battery.

The idea of a powered decal isn’t completely original although this is the first variant I’ve seen that's designed to complement other drivers and has a remote.

It’s an extremely simple concept that’s already getting a lot of support on Kickstarter. The MotorMood team is aiming to raise $130,500 to get the product off the ground. With 35 days remaining, they’ve already raised over $33,000.

A pledge of just $19 is all that’s needed to guarantee you’ll be one of the first to get MotorMood when it ships in December.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/61128-make-road-happier-place-motormood.html

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Cool, but there needs to be more than just one emoji. The middle finger is an absolute necessity because it's the only gesture some jerks understand.

 

[Capaill]

Which emoji do I use to tell someone to turn off their foglights when it's a perfectly clear day and I'm stuck behind him in a 10-mile traffic jam?
Middle finger would work great there.

 

[Tanstar]

No motion, no variety, just a light-up smiley face? I don't see how this would even get noticed by anyone and I can see wrecks as drivers try to turn them on. Boring non-product. Is the project owned by a friend of the article writer?

 

[BMfan]

I think it's been possible to thank drivers for letting you pass since at least the 60/70's,it called a hazard warning light.Every car I have ever driven has one and it works quite well.

I do think this would look perfect on Googles stupid bubble car,just pointless though.

 

[Camikazi]

So a plastic painted face and 2 LEDs turned on by remote control IR? I mean I remember making fake plastic colored "glass" toys when I was smaller by using clear colored paints that harden into a bendable plastic, that an an LED basically makes this. If you want me to buy this make it a small LED screen that is programmable, THEN I will think about it but then again I can probably make that with a Raspberry Pi and a screen module.

P.S. Dammit, now I'm thinking about making something like this myself, found prices for glass paint and plexiglass is cheap just need a few LEDs (also cheap) and a remote.

 

[seefizzle]

How about a light up led for when someone is riding your ***? A light up turd maybe. Maybe a frown face.

 

[CrisisDog]

This will be outlawed as soon as it hits the market by law enforcement agencies. They're very strict on things that light up which are not an original car accessory. Around here even running board lights can get you in trouble...

 

[Arris]

This will be outlawed as soon as it hits the market by law enforcement agencies. They're very strict on things that light up which are not an original car accessory. Around here even running board lights can get you in trouble...

Totally. And I'm sure they won't want green lights showing up on the back of cars. Not good using same colour as traffic lights.