We had the opportunity to visit Gentex, a company known for automated electronics, auto-dimming technology, and car cameras. Although traffic delayed our arrival, we were still welcomed warmly with refreshments. We split into three groups to rotate through various areas of the building. I liked going around the company with a smaller group, because it made it easier to see and hear each one of our guides.
My group’s first guide took us into a showcase-type room, where he explained some of Gentex’s various products. One of the items he showed us was a rearview mirror that could switch between acting as a regular mirror and becoming a camera display. The perks of using the camera display is that it will alert you when a car moves into your car’s blindspot and can even display the blind spot on the sides of the mirror. Other products included side mirrors, a roof window with dimming technology, and a stand for the rearview mirror that could pay tolls in the United States, so you don’t have to worry about having multiple toll collection systems cluttering your car.
Lastly, he showed us Gentex’s iris technology, which allows the rearview mirror to scan the iris of the driver. An unlimited about of users can be inputted into the system, and some can have limits set upon them such as a time frame or mile radius in which they are allowed to drive. Functions might be limited or even inoperable to drivers whose irises are not recognized. The guide even mentioned being able to drive up to Starbucks or the gas station and having the car pay for you without you having to exchange money or a card. The driver spending this money will be authorized with the accurate iris technology. This has some strange implications. It quickens the process of filling up your tank or getting your morning coffee, but it might leave you unsure as to how much money exactly you are spending per day. Also, it might increase consumer spending, because there is no loss felt like there is when handing over tangible cash. Finally, it brings up privacy concerns. Data could be collected as to specifically who is driving the car where, when, for how long, and what they bought. Privacy is becoming a larger issue with no easy answer, and this is one more case where I’m not sure if, just because we can do something, we should.
After the showcase room, we went into the factory part of the building, where we saw a small section of how parts are shipped into and out of the building. Having worked in a factory before, I was amazed at the quietness and cleanliness of the area. I was even a little impressed at the lengths that Gentex considers worker safety, by considering ergonomics. For example, there was a conveyor belt at waist height to easily drop heavy boxes into containers, rather than carrying them from one area to another, and pallets that could be raised or lowered when loading or unloading boxes. Another safety measure was that trucks bringing items to the factory had to have their wheels locked into place before the door could be opened. Across the bay door was a stretchy fence that, we were told, could stop a forklift moving at full speed. We did not see a demonstration, but it was nice to know that Gentex took measures to avoid any forklift accidents during offload.
Finally, we were taken into a conference room to discuss more of Gentex’s products and technologies (like crazy thin auto-dimming windows for airplanes) and give space to answer further questions. All in all, our Gentex visit was for informative and a great experience.