Features to prevent or reduce talking or texting while driving are very welcomed. However, I'm not so sure about the "environmental sensors." Seems like overkill and if they get baked in we will probably find out one day that they were also being used to collect highly personal information for nefarious purposes. Same thing with the fingerprint sensor.
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Apple Patents Technology to Disable Certain Phone Functions While Driving
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how isn't this considered obvious? does patent law really allow this sort of who wrote it down first stuff regardless of the fact there is nothing novel about any of it? don't get me wrong I hate people who use their phones while driving and would love to see this feature enabled in all phone, but by law not as a patent.
I think Ive been behind you. Sitting in your car texting while the light has long since turned green. Then you get pissed and flip me off when I tap my horn to let you know you're holding up traffic.
If you have all the roads to yourself, by all means text, call, surf to your hearts content. The only person you jeopardize is zorinlynx. However, when you're on the road with other people, your 2 ton conveyance can easily become a WMD <- nice hyperbole.
Bolded: You may not be a moron and other may be as moronic as you think they are. You have a responsibility to yourself (we'd miss you if you died because of a text) and to others on the road. Driving should always be done defensively. You can't do that while texting. Only a moron would drive any other way.
Before someone says sitting at a stoplight is not driving. Don't. If the engine is on and the car is not in park, you're driving. Besides, no text is that important. Ever. If you think it is. Pull over.
I'm sorry but when you're waiting several minutes for the light to turn green, it's okay to send a text or two. And I do pay attention, so when the light does turn green I don't sit there like an idiot still texting.
I also do not do this in unfamiliar areas. The simple fact is you have to use common sense in all life situations, including this one.
I just read a few random words from the headline, so now I think Apple has a patent to stop people from driving.
Bullcrap. Windows Phone already gives you the option to reply to texts with canned messages, and ignore phone calls, or route them to the car speakers, at the user's choice. How is this patentable in sight of prior art?
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Sorry, was driving.
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Sorry, was driving.
The patent is not about disabling while in motion. That idea has been around and in use for a while.
The patent is about disabling while in motion, BUT THEN enabling a device that is in a "safe zone" of the vehicle. E.g. passenger seats.
The patent says that the user has to pan the device's camera around so the visual analyzer can determine if you're in a safe zone or not.
For instance, if the camera does not see a steering wheel directly in front of the user, then the device can be enabled.
One question that's not answered, is what if the driver has a passenger do the visual scan, and then hand the enabled device to the driver.
The patent was filed Dec 2008.
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The Apple patent was filed Dec 2008.
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Ah, I see you have read the patent description thoroughly. So, what is your opinion on the scenery analysis embodiment described on page 4?
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I need this... when you are driving.
Forget the nanny state. How about just plain old social pressure and consideration for other people? Do those mean anything to you?
I'm not putting anyone at risk by texting at a red light. I have plenty of consideration for other people.
The INSTANT the light turns green, often before, I sleep my phone and pay attention to traffic. Other people I see continue to finish their text as they go. Other people text as they're driving on the interstate, veering back and forth. I never do this.
I will never drive if I've even had ONE drink in the past couple of hours. I have been driving for 17 years and have only gotten into one accident which wasn't even my fault.
People go too far sometimes. Even car navigation systems that restrict your ability to program them while driving will let you do so while stopped at a light. You are nitpicking; knock it off and go after the people who are actually a danger to others.
I can't see how apple can determine position in a car, it's going to be based on trying to take a call while driving and even then it can't know every car layout and will only get it wrong and cause more hassle than it's worth. It's a nice thing to be able to do but if it were a safety feature surely it should be universal and not patented. Especially if it became required by law. Personally hate the idea and I have never used my phone in a car. I wager the majority of user on this forum are too young to drive anyway.
As I mentioned above, it looks for a steering wheel. That makes it independent of the car layout.
Another option in the patent is to have low power transmitters in each seat to tell the smart device if it can be used or not.
The biggest problem with the whole scheme is, what if you have a genuine need to use your phone?!
E.g. you're being carjacked, or chased, or your gas pedal is stuck, or other emergencies. That would mean there has to be an emergency mode, and that negates the whole idea. Unless it only allowed 911 and that seems like a very bad idea.