Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[OMG LOL: New study says 93% of Americans favor banning text messaging while driving]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/omg-lol-new-study-says-93-of-americans-favor-banning-text-mess/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/omg-lol-new-study-says-93-of-americans-favor-banning-text-mess/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/omg-lol-new-study-says-93-of-americans-favor-banning-text-mess/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Maybe it's not surprising that Ford commissioned a study that helps bolster a sales case for some of its in-car-electronics, but the Blue Oval seems to have its finger on the pulse of the nation this time. Market researchers Penn, Schoen & Berland polled 1,000 drivers and found that 93% of them agree with the notion of a nationwide ban on texting. Those drivers seemed to be realists, however, with only 42% believing that the same idiots who punch out communiques instead of attentively piloting their 3,500 pound projectiles would actually curtail the behavior if a ban were enacted.

Ford, of course, has a solution with its SYNC voice activation technology. Fully 76% of the respondents expressed interest in a vehicle with technology like that of the Blue Oval, which is probably the main point of the survey in the first place. It's likely safer to keep a driver looking down the road with his or her hands on the wheel instead of fiddling with a handheld, but there's still an issue of distraction when a driver's thinking more about chatting instead of steering, as many studies regarding the use of hands-free phones in automobiles have shown.

For its part, Ford has been looking into driving distractions for a long time, and technology like SYNC and MyKey are the results. There's not yet a speech-to-text function, but if a ban gets enacted, look for Dearborn to be ready with just such a system to sell you.

[Source: Motor Trend | Image: Edbrown05 via CC 2.0]

OMG LOL: New study says 93% of Americans favor banning text messaging while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driving studyDrivingStudyfordFord Syncford voice activationFordSyncFordVoiceActivationhands-freehandsfreespeech recognitionspeech to textSpeechRecognitionSpeechToTextSynctext to speechtextingtexting studytexting while drivingtextingdrivingTextingStudyTextingWhileDrivingTextToSpeechvoice activationVoiceActivationWed, 30 Sep 2009 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[California joins other states with hands-free cellphone law]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/california-joins-other-states-with-hands-free-cellphone-law/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/california-joins-other-states-with-hands-free-cellphone-law/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/california-joins-other-states-with-hands-free-cellphone-law/#commentsFiled under: ,


California joined thirty-two other states today when a new law banning unlimited cellphone use in automobiles went into effect at midnight. The new rules prohibit drivers from holding cellphones to their ears while talking, yet they are still allowed to dial the phone to place the call... and freely text message. While the law won't likely have a huge effect on many adult drivers who have become accustomed to using speaker-phones and hands-free devices such as Bluetooth-enabled earpieces (as if that really helps), it is the young drivers who face tough new rules. The law in the Golden State now bans drivers under the age of 18 from using any kind of mobile device while driving. All drivers face the same slap-on-the-wrist if caught. The first offense is only $20, with the fee bumped to $50 for additional convictions. Of course, that number will rapidly increase if other infractions or penalties are applied.

[Source: Los Angeles Times, Photo by David McNew/Getty]

California joins other states with hands-free cellphone law originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothcaliforniaCellphonehands-freelawslegislationspeakerphoneteenagersTue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW to go hands-free in the back seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/bmw-to-go-hands-free-in-the-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/bmw-to-go-hands-free-in-the-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/bmw-to-go-hands-free-in-the-back-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With Bluetooth hands-free phoning trickling all the way down to the options lists of  inexpensive motors like the Nissan Versa, high-end car manufacturers are searching for new points of differentiation in the telephony wars.

BMW has taken the battle to the back seat, as rear seat hands-free will be an option on its 7-Series lineup in the not-too-distant future. The Peikar Acustic wireless phone will allow storage of 100 speed dial numbers.

[Sources: TelematicsJournal.com; WHTHmusic.com]

BMW to go hands-free in the back seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-SeriesBluetoothcar phoneCarPhonehands-freelimousineLuxury SedanLuxurySedanrear seat phoneRearSeatPhoneSeven SeriesSevenSeriestelephonyWed, 07 Jun 2006 14:55:00 EST