How does that saying go? Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Okay, here's an interesting product that has the right idea, but one that needs to be turned on its ear.
At first glance, I was excited to see the story Darren Murph wrote at Engadget Mobile about a cellphone jammer on a key fob. Way cool, I thought. I can actually "zap" people I see talking or texting while driving to force a hang-up. My mind raced ahead pondering the possibilities. When I slowed down and read the story about Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), my hopes were dashed. As Darren explained it:
"Essentially, the signal blocking kicks into action anytime the "key" portion is flicked out, connecting to a handset via Bluetooth or RFID and forcing it into "driving mode." No actual jamming, per se, is going on; it's more like a manual override of the ringer. Anyone who phones / texts you while you're safely driving will receive an automated response informing them of such, though we are told that handsfree devices can be utilized."
Oh! So it prevents the driver from taking calls. Humm...
I went to the website, Key2SafeDriving.net, and found that the company spends a lot of time explaining why it is necessary and zero time talking about what it is. In fact, you have to click on the Technology tab just to finally get an understanding of how it works. Here's what they said:
- A car key is configured to wirelessly connect with a cell phone through Bluetooth or RFID.
- To turn on the engine, the driver has to either slide the key out or push a button to release it, then a "driving" signal is automatically sent to the associated cell phone, and the cell phone changes to driving mode, during which
- Teen drivers are not allowed to talk/text while driving
- Adult drivers need to use a hands-free device, and are not allowed to text while driving (Remark: Adults using hands free with soft reporting can obtain partial discounts, while adults wanting total disablement obtain even higher insurance discounts)
- Incoming phone calls/text messages are auto-replied to
- Cell phone capabilities can still be used during an emergency
- When the car key is used to turn off the engine, a car stopped signal is sent to the phone, and the cell phone returns to normal communication mode.
So it forces discipline. First, I think the target (teenagers) will easily find a way to work around this solution. And second, I think it is more of a gimmick and doesn't address the real issue.
People need to pay attention when they drive... PERIOD. That means everything from having your headlights on at dusk, dawn and when it is raining (not just at night), to watching the road instead of a keypad. This gadget/gizmo is an attention getter for the company, but a grossly inadequate solution.
Now if they could adapt the technology so you could disable the cell phones of the people you see talking and texting while driving, that would be cool. There would be a whole army of citizens policing to ensure the roads are safer.
Hey, guys! Time to get back to the drawing board.
Here's a link to a demo of how it works.
