CarWink, made by Innovart, allows drivers to communicate with vehicles behind them using text and animations.

Drivers hang the circular, digital display on their rear windshield and use voice prompts to display one of its pre-set animations or messages.

Some of the pre-set messages and animations don't seem useful, but others, like the ability to tell a car behind yours to turn off its high beams, could solve common problems for drivers.

Communicating with a car behind yours is difficult, particularly when the point you want to make can't be conveyed with a simple hand gesture. CarWink, made by Innovart, allows drivers to communicate with vehicles behind them using text and animations.

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Drivers hang the circular, digital display on their rear windshield and use voice prompts to display one of its pre-set animations or messages. For example, if the car behind yours honks while you're stopped at an intersection to let a pedestrian cross, saying, "Carwink, pedestrian crossing," will display an image of a figure crossing a road followed by text that says, "ped xing."

Some of the pre-set messages and animations don't seem useful (if you say, "Carwink, party time," the device will display an image of what appears to be a dinosaur wearing a hat and waving a flag), but others, like the ability to tell a car behind yours to turn off its high beams, could solve common problems for drivers.

A limited number of CarWink devices are available for $92 (the price will briefly be $99 if the $92 devices run out), but the price will rise to $199 in March, a CarWink representative told Business Insider. That seems overly expensive, but the device could be useful to just about anyone who drives.

What it is: The CarWink digital communication device

Who makes it: Innovart

Why it's the best: It's simple, novel, and solves a common problem for drivers.

Where and when you can get it: Innovart's website

How much it costs: A limited number are available for $92. If the $92 devices run out, the price will be $99 until March, when the price will rise to $199.