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Cars, Trucks, Vans & Automotive
2011-12-27 13:21:16
Exciting new technologies
A: To increase safety on the road, wireless researchers are looking for technologies that can passively influence the behavior of drivers who put themselves and others at risk through distracting cell phone use. Their research demonstrated a technique that detects drivers using phones and not hands free devices, distinguishing them from passengers, and shutting down the offending device with an accuracy of 95%.
The system uses an algorithm-based system that measures the acoustic signals emitted from the stereo and the phone and blue tooth receiver. If the signal is coming from the driver’s seat, the system disables the phone.
Since any passenger phones would ping outside of the driver’s area, they would be unaffected.
The technology is aimed at making the roads safer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified cell phone distraction as a major cause of injury and death in 2009 resulting in 995 deaths and 24,000 injuries.
There are still some kinks to be worked out though, such as the lack of bluetooth in all vehicles, having software installed in all cell phones and the biggest hurdle of all, tech savvy individuals that would find ways to disable it faster than it could be employed.
While it may or may not ever be employed, it is a good reminder to keep the eyes on the road and not that cell phone.
