The manufacturers are also developing adaptive cruise control, which can automatically maintain a safe speed and distance from other vehicles, and intelligent speed adaptation, which can, in its most active form, prevent a driver exceeding the speed limit.

BBC: How close are we to a crash-proof car?

The result is a pair of intelligent, high-fidelity active sound-reduction earplugs that allow natural hearing when sound is safe and provide automatic protection from both loud, sustained music and sudden, loud percussive sounds.

ENGADGET: Etymotic Music?Pro 9-15 earplugs bring high-end hush to audiences, lets us enjoy speed metal safely