In-car texting made easy
The mousetrap and mouse are locked in a constant battle for supremacy. The same is true with laws prohibiting texting while driving and the drivers who simply must text behind the wheel. Enter the capitalists: Microsoft and Nuance. Nuance makes voice recognition software and, combined with the Microsoft Sync system available in many Ford models, the driver would be able to dictate a text message to the car, and perhaps eventually do the same with e-mail.
A Nuance spokeswoman said "We are aiming for natural communication between car and driver, which will have benefits for concentration and safety." The way things are going, there are simply so many more things you can do in a car that we wonder how the increased ability to multitask, even if by voice, will ultimately aid concentration on actual driving. But we'll wait to see how it all shakes out before issuing judgment...
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J M C 3 5:07PM (10/06/2007)
D.W.T. = Driving while texting .Extremely dangerous.
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Khanh 5:09PM (10/06/2007)
how about invent a system that detects both hands on the steering wheel (except for switching gears of course and all those other buttons on the dash)? because what if you're in the middle of talking to the computer about what words you want in the email/text message, and then some freak cuts you off... and then you curse out loud like there's no tomorrow? and when you "click 'send message'"... what would happen? nothing to distract you while driving means you have more safety because you'll be more aware. so much more i could say, but im sure you guys get the idea.
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Dustin 7:47PM (10/06/2007)
Yeah, how about a cheaper solution? My Samsung d307 had the ability to dictate text messages, and it was 100% accurate. Of course, being the responsible and ticket-free driver I've been my entire life, I'd never use this feature while driving.
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JunkStory 9:11PM (10/06/2007)
If you are going to use voice to write a text message, why not just make a phone call?
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Buckus 9:48PM (10/06/2007)
The most distracting thing I've used in a car is a cell phone, and only for voice, and when I do use it it's only to take calls and tell people to call back or I'll call them later because I'm driving.
Pay attention to the road people: we're all better off if you do.
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tankd0g 10:43PM (10/06/2007)
Are you f*** kidding me. Dictation for text messaging, really? Or did I accidentaly dial up theonion.com?
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aman 10:20PM (10/06/2007)
even if this does help concentrate on the road, wont it encourage this exact same thing?
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mk 3:38AM (10/07/2007)
Monumentally bad idea.
it is this kind of crap being put into new cars that makes me want to start restoring daily-driveable classics.
Which doesn't completely solve the problem if other morons are out driving around, emailing, and texting, and bull-crap like that, while I am having to try to not be hit by them crossing the center-line.
DRIVE THE DAMN CAR. My dad told me that when I was learning to drive, and it still applies today.
What could possibly be so important that one can't be out of incessant digital contact with friends, family, co-workers, or whoever, for the time that they are behind the wheel?
I gave up my cell phone, and after a very short withdrawal period, I am glad to be rid of it, and especially the bill, and the interruptions. land-line and e-mail when I choose to do it still works fine.
I don't begrudge people their devices, and I do like cool new tech, but one would think that people can't separate themselves from their machines for even a few minutes anymore.
What did we ever do, just a few years ago. 10 or 15 years ago, when the internet was still rare, and cell phones took huge batteries on spotty analog networks...
Technology for technology's sake is not always good, and distraction behind the wheel is one sure way that it is not.
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compy386 10:16AM (10/07/2007)
You're right mk texting while driving is a horrible idea. So is talking on the phone for that matter. But the problem is people do it. I've called people for directions while driving without pulling over and to be quite honest I'll even answer the phone in case it's an emergency (usually isn't). The problem is that people do it. This at least makes it easier and hopefully safer. Although studies have shown that talking even to a passenger has a large effect on your driving (same effect as cell phone and alcohol). Are we going to start banning passengers in cars or conversation?
mk 2:38PM (10/07/2007)
Alcohol is another issue, and should be strictly enforced, and usually is.
Talking to passengers can be distracting, too. But most passengers know when to shut it, and know when the driver needs to pay extra attention. There are conversational and awareness contexts with passengers who are in the car that are not there with people who are not in the car.
Talking on a hands free cell phone is not much different, but the person on the other end doesn't have the context and awareness that a passenger has, and tends to demand a slightly different sort of awareness and concentration from the driver, but still usually manageable to a person with an ability to multitask and prioritize their attention.
A cell in your hands tends to limit dexterity and control, by not having two hands free, and diverting attention to handling both the phone and the car, rather than paying that attention to driving.
Texting is WORSE. There is more thought that goes into typing on a tiny qwerty, or worse yet, a number pad, and trying to write thoughts legibly, even in bizarre 'leet' shorthand, that it leaves very little attention left to driving.
There is a finite amount of attention that a driver has. People can multi-task, but only so much. A passenger is much more manageable, and more understanding if a driver must suddenly ignore them to drive. the more indirect the communication, or the more dexterity and handling required, the less attention and control the driver has over the car.
Hyperbole about passenger distraction is not the same as further opening the door of technical distractions being built into a car.
I just hope some fool isn't texting some other moron about some meaningless BS, while not paying attention, and runs into me while I am paying attention. I try very hard to pay as much attention to driving my car as appropriate, and avoid accidents, but even the most attentive and skilled driver can be hit by a moron coming out of nowhere, and not obeying traffic laws while they are texting their "bff" or something.
Rationalization doesn't cut it.
BW411 7:19PM (11/14/2007)
The use of a phone (for any purpose) whilst driving has been made illegal - but people still do it..! What I find especially annoying is women who use the phone (at the wheel) with small children in the rear passenger seat - not only illegal but downright irresponsible as well.
To me there's a very effective method of getting the point across, If the police aren't around to deal with the perpetrators then (perhaps) a brick though the window might do the trick - they certainly wouldn't see it coming as they'd be far too busy (chatting) to notice.
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