On 02/03/2016 14:41, Graham. wrote:
When I was a child, in my grandfather's bookcase there was a copy of
“Science Advances” by JBS Haldane.
If you aren’t familiar with Haldane he’s well worth a Google.
The most memorable concept in that book for me, other than his “Come
the revolution” Marxist style, was a few paragraphs on polarized
headlamps.
The idea had been proposed by the inventor of Polaroid sheet
polarizers , Edwin Land.
Basically the idea is we all drive about using un-dipped headlights
with the lights, and windscreens polarized with a 90deg differential.
I know it is said that it takes a genius to think of an idea that
later seems obvious, but in this case I really feel that if Land
hadn’t thought of it, I would have, and I expect many here would say
the same.
Here's an good article on the subject
http://www.polarization.com/land/land.html
and here is the Haldane’s book see page 183
http://www.archive.org/stream/scienc...ge/n7/mode/2up
So this issue must have been considered time and time again, yet
always rejected for mainstream use. Why?
Hell, they can then even turn all the street-lighting off!
(As they seem to be doing so anyway).
There are other road users than cars, some don't have windscreens to
polarize.