What makes EyesOn Design judging special?

One of the very unique features of the EyesOn Design car show, held annually at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, is the judging of a category of cars by a group of visually impaired judges - members of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology's (DIO) adult support group. They meet monthly from September through June and, in early Spring, they are given a description of the various vehicle categories and a list of what cars will be in each of them. They then discuss their options and select a category that is of special interest to them.

On Father's day (June 21 this year), the group will again don white cotton gloves and, with several young automotive designers as guides, spend hours comparing the curves of fenders, the slants of windshields, the size of wheels and the proportions of each of the cars in the category. Usually there are about ten or 12 cars in the category and it takes about two hours to go over each of the vehicles. Often dozens of the visitors to the show are in awe of the process - and impressed with the choices. In fact, very often both the visually impaired judges and the sighted crowd pick the same vehicle as their favorite.

Automotive design has been referred to as 'rolling sculpture' and that description is certainly appropriate when this group is observed working their way around the sea of vehicles. Later in the day the group presents a crystal award to the winner in their category.

But why is judging done in this way? And for what purpose? The blind 'judging by touch' is a tradition that goes back almost to the beginning of the EyesOn Design car show 23 years ago. It serves as a visible reminder to everyone who sees it take place that the show has a purpose greater than simply a showing of great cars at one of America's most beautiful venues.

EyesOn Design is an international celebration of fine automobile design of the past the present and the future, and it also supports the programs of the DIO. One of those programs is devoted to the eventual marriage between biology and electronics, which will result in the development of devices to be placed in the eye or the brain of many persons now blind to afford them some level of useful vision.

With the proceeds of the car show, and support from many other sources, the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology has become the epicenter of these efforts. In June 2008, and again in 2010, it will mount the only world congress - called The Eye and The Chip - devoted exclusively to this subject: vision some have referred to as the 'bionic eye'. Further information, along with a good look at the program, may be found by visiting the website: www.eyeson.org/teatc.html

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