Student’s road sign revolution

5th Jun 2013

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130605_PulsingSign_224A student hopes his new hologram road signs which ‘pulse’ at drivers will lead to a revolution in the way motorists are given information on the roads.

Nottingham Trent University undergraduate Charles Gale (pictured) has already obtained a patent for his design and is set to meet with transport officials to discuss how it could be used across the UK.

The signs use ‘lenticular hologram’ technology and display an animated reflective image which appears to pulse in day or night as road users approach and pass them.

His design is in response to calls for an overhaul of the UK's road signage network, which has been criticised by some as being cluttered and confusing.

Charles, 22, who has studied product design at the School of Architecture, Design & the Built Environment, will display a working prototype at the university’s Art & Design Degree Show until this Saturday.

“A lot of politicians have been debating the need for improvements to the UK’s traffic signs this year, and that is what’s really inspired the project,” he says.

“Road signs have barely changed for years and are fading into the background. Studies have shown that satnavs and roadside advertising may be a distraction to motorists.

“Using lenticulars could help road signs really grab people’s attention. They catch your eye and you’re instinctively drawn to the information.”

The design are made of plastic and ink, do not require electricity and can be retrofitted onto existing signs.

Charles has now founded his own company, Keyframe Signage, with the help of the university’s centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise. Once his patent has been fully approved, he is looking to license the design to existing manufacturers.

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