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Platform Notice

Prototype

Early Development Version

This is a preliminary demonstration of the Drive Awake platform concept. Content and features are in early stages of development.

Development Status

This prototype shows the project vision and institutional partnerships. Full platform development continues throughout 2025, with launch planned for 2026.

Thank you for your interest

Day Phase
● Manual
Why Does This Interface Change Colors? This platform automatically adapts to your biological circadian rhythms using science-based color temperature adjustment. Research from Harvard Medical School shows that blue light (446-477nm) suppresses melatonin production 2x more than other wavelengths, while disrupting your natural 24-hour biological clock.

The Science: Your retina contains specialized cells (ipRGCs) that detect light and send signals to your brain's "master clock" (suprachiasmatic nucleus). Different color temperatures align with natural biological phases - supporting alertness during peak performance hours and reducing disruption during drowsiness-prone periods.

Drive Awake Connection: Peak driving accident times (4-6 AM, 2-4 PM) correspond to circadian low points when attention and vigilance naturally decrease. This interface educates about these critical safety periods through direct physiological experience.
Neuroscience × Road Safety × Storytelling

Drive Awake

Sleep, Attention & Road Safety

Early Prototype Notice

This is a very early, primordial version of the Drive Awake platform. All content, design, and features shown are in extremely preliminary stages and serve as a conceptual demonstration only. Full development continues throughout 2025, with platform launch planned for 2026.

Drive Awake addresses a critical yet preventable public health crisis: drowsy driving, which causes 20% of fatal traffic accidents worldwide. Through evidence-based multimedia storytelling, we transform complex circadian neuroscience into actionable knowledge that can save lives on the roads.

Our initiative brings together sleep medicine specialists, traffic safety experts, and law enforcement to create the first comprehensive platform connecting circadian science with road safety education. Unlike mechanical failures, drowsy driving is entirely preventable through proper understanding of biological attention cycles and evidence-based behavioral interventions.

Platform Under Development

Content development started in 2024 with foundational research. Platform launch scheduled for 2026 in conjunction with awareness campaign activation. Documentary release expected 2028 in collaboration with Kevin Merz.

Drive Awake Research

Sleep science research conducted in partnership with EOC Sleep Medicine Department, examining circadian rhythm impacts on driving performance and safety.

Understanding Circadian Neuroscience & Road Safety
🇨🇭 Swiss Research Context
USTRA data shows 250 fatalities and 3,792 severe injuries in 2024, but only 120 officially attributed to "colpo di sonno" in recent years. Prof. Mancuso (EOC) estimates up to 33% of accidents may involve sleep deprivation — vastly underreported due to diagnostic challenges and classification gaps.
🇪🇺 European Data Challenges
European Commission studies show fatigue involved in 10-25% of accidents, with police reports capturing only 1-4%. Finland's in-depth investigations reveal 16-19% of fatal accidents involve sleep factors. The massive underreporting occurs because drowsiness cannot be measured like alcohol, and symptoms disappear post-crash.
🧠 Sleep Disorders & Complexity
Modern sleep medicine reveals conditions like sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, and chronic insomnia compound accident risk. Many crashes lack clear causation, creating diagnostic blind spots. Research partners EOC and IRM Zurich are advancing scientific understanding of these complex interactions through ongoing studies.
⚗️ Research Development Status
Platform in Development: Current figures are preliminary estimates requiring validation through institutional partnerships. Research findings from ongoing studies with standardized Swiss/European methodologies will be published and communicated through the Drive Awake platform upon completion in early 2026.
The Drive Awake Approach: As an independent artistic research initiative, Drive Awake creates an immersive, educational experience that connects scientific evidence with cultural storytelling. Rather than simply presenting data, this platform explores the human dimension of circadian science through documentary, digital campaigns, and interdisciplinary collaboration — bridging academic research with broader cultural understanding of sleep, attention, and road safety.
Our Mission

A multidisciplinary approach to road safety

Since drowsy driving accounts for a significant percentage of traffic accidents worldwide, scientific research offers clear pathways to prevention through better understanding of circadian neuroscience and attention networks.

Drive Awake combines documentary filmmaking, digital campaigns, and editorial content to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world application. Our platform transforms complex neuroscience into accessible knowledge that can save lives, while also exploring diverse cultural perspectives on sleep, consciousness, and attention across global traditions.

The project spans multiple formats: a feature-length documentary by Kevin Merz exploring international perspectives on sleep culture and road safety, a digital campaign developed with Centro Generativo launching in 2026, and cultural research at Cité des Arts Paris examining philosophical and mythological dimensions of sleep across various belief systems.

Documentary Production
Documentary production capturing expert interviews across Switzerland, France, and Los Angeles

Every story we tell, every campaign we develop, and every intervention we propose is grounded in peer-reviewed research and validated through collaboration with leading institutions. This ensures our content maintains the highest standards of scientific rigor while remaining accessible to diverse audiences.

Swiss Road Safety Context
  • 250 fatalities, 3,792 severe injuries (2024)
  • Only 120 "colpo di sonno" cases officially recorded
  • Prof. Mancuso (EOC): potential 33% involvement
  • Massive underreporting due to diagnostic gaps
  • Sleep disorders complicating classification
European Research Findings
  • 10-25% fatigue involvement (in-depth studies)
  • 1-4% in police reports (underestimated)
  • Finland: 16-19% of fatal accidents
  • 20% on motorways (UK studies)
  • No measurable test like alcohol available
Data Validation Status

Current figures are preliminary estimates from research partners. Comprehensive validation through EOC, IRM Zurich, and USTRA collaboration will provide definitive data at platform launch (early 2026).

Development and Implementation

Three pillars of evidence-based intervention

Drive Awake operates through three interconnected pillars designed to maximize reach and impact across different audience segments and communication channels.

The entire content framework was developed using evidence-based communication principles, providing a flexible and scalable foundation for scientific storytelling. The centerpiece documentary by Kevin Merz captures international perspectives through intimate interviews with researchers, policy makers, and individuals affected by drowsy driving incidents.

Seeking Development Partner
Webflow Platform Developer & Swiss Design Culture Expert

We are actively seeking a development partner with deep Swiss design culture and expertise in Webflow platform implementation. This collaboration will bring together Swiss precision in digital craftsmanship with advanced multimedia storytelling capabilities.

Technical Expertise
  • Advanced Webflow development & CMS
  • Vimeo integration & video workflows
  • Custom code & advanced interactions
  • Mobile-first responsive design
  • SEO optimization & performance
Swiss Design Culture
  • Understanding of Swiss design precision
  • Typography & grid system mastery
  • Clean, functional aesthetic approach
  • Attention to detail & craftsmanship
  • Multilingual implementation (DE/FR/IT/EN)
Digital Campaign Development
Kevin Merz directing documentary interviews across Switzerland, France, and Los Angeles
Editorial Partnership Opportunity
Social Media Manager & Scientific Content Editor

Discussions are ongoing with an editorial partner to enhance the platform's content strategy. We seek a professional with expertise in scientific communication, neuroscience content, and evidence-based social media strategy.

Content Strategy
  • Scientific communication expertise
  • Health & neuroscience content experience
  • Evidence-based storytelling
  • Editorial calendar development
  • Multi-platform content adaptation
Social Media Excellence
  • Cross-platform strategy (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram)
  • Community engagement & moderation
  • Analytics & performance optimization
  • Scientific accuracy in social content
  • Influencer & expert network building

The documentary forms the narrative backbone of the entire Drive Awake platform, with findings and expert insights feeding into our digital campaigns and editorial content. Distribution will occur through cinema industry partnerships and Swiss television networks, ensuring broad reach across diverse audiences.

Our interdisciplinary approach integrates sleep medicine, neuroscience, traffic safety research, and law enforcement data with cultural explorations of sleep across global traditions. This dual perspective — scientific evidence and cultural wisdom — creates a comprehensive understanding of sleep, attention, and road safety that resonates across different communities and belief systems.

Content Formats
  • Feature documentary film (Kevin Merz, 2028)
  • Digital campaign (Centro Generativo, 2026)
  • Cultural research (Cité des Arts Paris, 2026)
  • Expert interview archive (World Sleep Forum)
  • Educational materials
Distribution Channels

Cinema industry partnerships, Swiss television networks, ACS/Strade Sicure channels, educational institutions, and international film festivals.

Languages

German, French, Italian, English

Distribution

Digital platform, documentary festivals, educational institutions, public health campaigns

Strategic Collaborations

A consistent research framework for joint initiatives

Since the project involves multiple organizations across different disciplines, it required a distinct collaborative framework that works independently of each stakeholder.

Our research partnerships span sleep medicine, forensic science, traffic safety, and law enforcement, creating an interdisciplinary network that supports diverse perspectives on drowsy driving. Drive Awake serves as an independent platform that translates scientific research into accessible multimedia storytelling, bridging academic findings with broader cultural and artistic approaches to this critical public health issue.

EOC - Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale
Sleep Medicine Research

Clinical expertise in circadian rhythm research through Prof. Mancuso, plus scientific content development for both documentary and campaign materials.

IRM Zurich
Biomarker Research Partnership

Leading research in sleep-related biomarkers and forensic applications through the University of Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine. Scientific findings will be published through academic channels and explored through Drive Awake's interdisciplinary lens.

ACS - Automobil Club Svizzero
Strade Sicure Documentary & Distribution

Documentary collaboration and distribution partnership providing access to ACS publication channels and road safety networks through the Strade Sicure initiative.

Polizia Cantonale Ticino
Strade Sicure Documentary & Distribution

Documentary collaboration featuring law enforcement perspectives on drowsy driving incidents, plus distribution through Strade Sicure communication channels.

RoadCross Schweiz
Documentary & Educational Partnership

Documentary collaboration exploring human stories behind traffic accidents, plus educational outreach connecting road safety awareness to Swiss schools and educational institutions.

World Sleep Forum 2025
Documentary Collaboration

Forensic Sleep Medicine Think Tank at Monte Verità, Ascona (November 10-12, 2025). Documentary collaboration exploring drowsy driving guidelines with Prof. Mancuso and international sleep medicine experts.

Centro Generativo
Campaign Production Partnership

Creative production partner for Drive Awake campaign development (2026), contributing specialized video content, motion graphics, and multimedia storytelling expertise for digital platform launch.

Additional partnerships for documentary production, cultural research, and distribution are currently under development.

Drive Awake demonstrates how scientific research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based storytelling can come together to actively address critical public health challenges through accessible multimedia platforms.

Collaboration Model

Independent research framework ensuring scientific rigor while maintaining editorial independence across all participating institutions.

Quality Assurance
  • Peer review processes
  • Ethics oversight
  • Scientific validation
  • Accuracy verification
Development Phases

Project timeline and milestones

Drive Awake unfolds across multiple years, progressing through distinct phases of research, content production, platform development, and impact assessment.

2024
Research & Content
2025
Production
2026
Platform Launch
2028
Documentary Release

2024: Research & Content — Foundation research with institutional partners, content development initiation, and scientific framework establishment.

2025: Production — Documentary filming and research, platform architecture development with Centro Generativo, and partnership consolidation. World Sleep Forum coverage at Monte Verità (November 2025).

2026: Platform Launch — Digital platform activation with Centro Generativo, simultaneous awareness campaign launch, and ongoing content development from documentary production.

2028: Documentary Release & Distribution — Feature documentary premiere completing the multimedia ecosystem. Distribution through cinema industry and Swiss television partnerships.

Current Phase

Content production including documentary filming, digital campaign development, and editorial platform architecture.

Next Milestones
  • Documentary post-production
  • Platform beta testing
  • Content localization
  • Partnership expansion

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