device to help find front of car (double vision)

Hello,

I have double vision and dry eye caused either by a severe head injury
or a stroke. The eye doc here is an older fellow that I guess doesn't
keep up with things as I learned this morning that therapy can be
effective but the doc never said anything about that; my solution for
now is to wear a patch over the left eye with muscle/nerve damage.

Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have
adjusted pretty much to using only my right eye. The problem I am
looking for a solution for is parking my car. In the street, there are
enough other visual cues for me to tell how far away things are, but
when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front of
the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or
hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a
stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi
trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better
idea.

It was while looking for information for such a device that I found
that there are therapies that could be successful in restoring my
vision to normal. Unfortunately, I will need to travel about 500 miles
to get to the proper help. I'm starting to work towards that goal as
of today now that I know that there might be some hope. Until this
morning, I thought I might have to wear this stupid patch the rest of
my life.

Any suggestions for my car will be greatly appreciated.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

Dave Bell <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed) rea.net:

> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007, Uncle Pirate wrote:
>
>> Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have
>
> "Interesting" combination of unfortunate events! Hopefully not
> simultaneous...

There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural
highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which
caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well banked
curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in Critical Care after
the crash. I don't even remember leaving my house that morning.

>
> How about an old-fashioned "curb feeler"? Remember the spring

Yes, damn it, I'm old enough to remember those.

> mounted steel probe that was often mounted on the curb side of cars,
> so you could hear it scraping, before damaging your wheels?

I don't think those would help with things in front of me.

> Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted
> side-looking on the front bumper.

That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on
disability, I don't have much to spare.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

On Apr 18, 1:26 am, Uncle Pirate <UnclePir...@MotorcycleFun.org>
wrote:
> Dave Bell <d...@TheSPAMFREEBells.net> wrote innews:(E-Mail Removed) yarea.net:
>
> > On Tue, 17 Apr 2007, Uncle Pirate wrote:
>
> >> Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have
>
> > "Interesting" combination of unfortunate events! Hopefully not
> > simultaneous...
>
> There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural
> highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which
> caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well banked
> curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in Critical Care after
> the crash. I don't even remember leaving my house that morning.
>
>
>
> > How about an old-fashioned "curb feeler"? Remember the spring
>
> Yes, damn it, I'm old enough to remember those.
>
> > mounted steel probe that was often mounted on the curb side of cars,
> > so you could hear it scraping, before damaging your wheels?
>
> I don't think those would help with things in front of me.
>
> > Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted
> > side-looking on the front bumper.
>
> That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on
> disability, I don't have much to spare.
>
> --
> Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate"http://stanmccann.us/
> Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
> A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

One really good cue to distance is paralax. This is how objects move
in relation to one another depending on what you are looking at. If
you hold your finger in front of you, look at your finger, and move
your head back and forth you will notice the finger stays in more or
less in the same place, but the background (a wall at a good
diastance) will move quite quickly. Using this relative motion your
brain uses these clues to help determine depth. In fact with persons
with two good eyes your brain relys on this "paralax." If you mounted
a stick on the front bumper of your car you could certainly benefit
from it. Might look s a little strange, and make sure it doesn't block
your view of the road, but it will prbably help. Just remember to move
your head back and forth a little bit when parking :-)

"Dave Bell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ea.net...
> On Tue, 18 Apr 2007, Uncle Pirate wrote:
>
>> There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural
>> highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which
>> caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well banked
>> curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in Critical Care after
>> the crash. I don't even remember leaving my house that morning.
>
> Damn! Can't blame the cycle for that one... Hope you have a full recovery,
> eventually.
>
>> I don't think those would help with things in front of me.
>
> The curb feeler approach would have to be modified somewhat, true.
>
>> > Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted
>> > side-looking on the front bumper.
>>
>> That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on
>> disability, I don't have much to spare.
>
> I understand that!! They are getting cheaper, though. My wife picked one
> up at Costco this last Christmas for $89...
>

I got a brand new one for $58 on eBay!

"FKS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:vWAVh.3015$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> "Dave Bell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) ea.net...
>> On Tue, 18 Apr 2007, Uncle Pirate wrote:
>>
>>> There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a
>>> rural highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke
>>> which caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well
>>> banked curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in
>>> Critical Care after the crash. I don't even remember leaving my
>>> house that morning.
>>
>> Damn! Can't blame the cycle for that one... Hope you have a full
>> recovery, eventually.

Thanks. I don't think I can blame another driver either. It's not
like so many that get hit by inattentive drivers. Stuff happens. I
have a sister that has also had a stroke; she is as bad, if not worse
off than I am and she didn't crash a motorcycle when she had the
stroke. They can be bad news.

>>> I don't think those would help with things in front of me.
>>
>> The curb feeler approach would have to be modified somewhat, true.
>>
>>> > Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera",
>>> > mounted side-looking on the front bumper.
>>>
>>> That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on
>>> disability, I don't have much to spare.
>>
>> I understand that!! They are getting cheaper, though. My wife
>> picked one up at Costco this last Christmas for $89...
>>
>
> I got a brand new one for $58 on eBay!
>
>
>

Thanks guys. You've given me some idea of where/what to look for now.
At those kind of prices, I can probably swing something.

Another thought I had is a proximity sensor like they are using for
backup sensors, just put it on the front? I'll have to do some price
comparisons. I sometimes forget how fast the cost of technology is
coming down even when sitting here looking at my $169 19" wide flat
panel screen.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

On 17 Apr 2007 20:47:26 GMT, Uncle Pirate
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front of
>the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or
>hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a
>stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi
>trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better
>idea.

I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the
curb.

1. No Cost Solution. Either on your own or with help from someone in
the passenger seat, get your car parked correctly six inches from the
curb. The curb then makes an imaginary line which intersects the right
front of the hood at a certain distance from the fender edge. Line
that place up with the curb each time you park. If you have a hood
ornament that sticks up, you can use it to line up the curb instead.

2. Expensive Solution. Buy an ordinary household suction cup (59 cents
US). Stick it on the front of the hood. The knobby part makes a good
line-up tool. It's unobtrusive and looks nicest if you center it like
a hood ornament. But you can stick it off-center on the right if that
seems more convenient for you.

--
Regards,
Dan

I like your idea, but it's not exactly clear for me. If you use a
central ornament, that's a different location from that place (to the
right) where the curb line intersects the front of the car, isn't it?

w.stacy, o.d.

Dan wrote:

>On 17 Apr 2007 20:47:26 GMT, Uncle Pirate
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>
>>when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front of
>>the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or
>>hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a
>>stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi
>>trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better
>>idea.
>>
>>
>
>I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the
>curb.
>
>1. No Cost Solution. Either on your own or with help from someone in
>the passenger seat, get your car parked correctly six inches from the
>curb. The curb then makes an imaginary line which intersects the right
>front of the hood at a certain distance from the fender edge. Line
>that place up with the curb each time you park. If you have a hood
>ornament that sticks up, you can use it to line up the curb instead.
>
>2. Expensive Solution. Buy an ordinary household suction cup (59 cents
>US). Stick it on the front of the hood. The knobby part makes a good
>line-up tool. It's unobtrusive and looks nicest if you center it like
>a hood ornament. But you can stick it off-center on the right if that
>seems more convenient for you.
>
>--
>Regards,
>Dan
>
>
>

Dan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> On 17 Apr 2007 20:47:26 GMT, Uncle Pirate
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front
>>of the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should
>>be or hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of
>>mounting a stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you
>>see on semi trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there
>>is a better idea.
>
> I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the
> curb.

No, how far away from the pole sticking up in front of handicapped
parking spots. I often hit the pole or am a couple feet away. I
cannot judge the distance.

> 1. No Cost Solution. Either on your own or with help from someone in
> the passenger seat, get your car parked correctly six inches from
> the curb. The curb then makes an imaginary line which intersects the
> right front of the hood at a certain distance from the fender edge.
> Line that place up with the curb each time you park. If you have a
> hood ornament that sticks up, you can use it to line up the curb
> instead.

I am able to use these types of visual cues in traffic but approaching
a pole in front of me, there are not enough other visual cues.

> 2. Expensive Solution. Buy an ordinary household suction cup (59
> cents US). Stick it on the front of the hood. The knobby part makes
> a good line-up tool. It's unobtrusive and looks nicest if you center
> it like a hood ornament. But you can stick it off-center on the
> right if that seems more convenient for you.

Thanks for the offered solutions.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:43:53 GMT, William Stacy <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I like your idea, but it's not exactly clear for me. If you use a
>central ornament, that's a different location from that place (to the
>right) where the curb line intersects the front of the car, isn't it?

The center of the hood will line up with a spot further up the street.
Sometimes, it's not practical, but some drivers prefer it to the
position on the right because they find it easier to judge from the
center of the car. To each his own!

--
Regards,
Dan

On 19 Apr 2007 16:45:30 GMT, Uncle Pirate
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Dan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:(E-Mail Removed) :

>> I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the
>> curb.
>
>No, how far away from the pole sticking up in front of handicapped
>parking spots. I often hit the pole or am a couple feet away. I
>cannot judge the distance.

Unc,
I'm familiar with your problem. I used to specialize in
teaching/reteaching people with disabilities how to drive legally and
safely despite the disability.

There's a way to test you out and possibly train you with a technique
to know where the front of the car is. But it's too difficult to
derscribe, and anyway it has to be done with someone knowledgeable (a
professional). The success of that technique depends on the severity
of your problem and just has to be field-tested.

Meanwhile, caution has to rule! Try this two-step process (if you
havn't done something like it already). 1. When you're entering a
parking space that's diagonal or perpendicular to the curb, stop the
car too soon, i.e., when you are sure you are not truly fully parked
in the space (and haven't gotten anyplace near the sign post yet). 2.
Then inch your car forward slowly, I mean reeeaaally slowly, like
almost at a standstill, until your bumper gently taps the sign post.
Then back up a few inches and you're in correctly.

--
Regards,
Dan