Only using voice commands while driving?
Car accident rates are definitely up, and cell phones are partially responsible. Texting while driving, or even just talking, seems to have more people distracted on the road than ever. This is where ZoomSafer wants to step in to help with their software. Basically, if you’re on the move (detected by GPS, or a setting in the app), ZoomSafer will prevent you from making calls, writing texts or emails. However, could this case more life-threatening problems than it can resolve? Let’s discuss.
First of all, I am personally wary of anything that prevents me from making calls on my phone. While I agree that even the standard dialer app on Android can force close or have issues, layering another software on top of this makes me all the more nervous. The first scenario that comes to mind is one where I am in an accident and can’t call 911. I addressed this concern with the aforementioned company, and they did tell me there is a hands-free dialing feature so you can still make calls safely -while- driving. Call me paranoid–no, really, go ahead–but I’d still like to know that I can use my fingers to punch in 911. And that’s where the dialer issue comes in… what if I can’t disable it? What if it goes into a force close loop? I’m not trying to say their software isn’t up to par, but I’m sure most of our readers here at DroidDog are aware that different flavors of Android respond in unique ways to different applications. Sometimes things work seamlessly together, and sometimes they just… don’t. So what do you think? Is using an app that requires you to use hands-free commands on your phone while in the car worth the trade off of possibly locking up when you need to make an emergency call? Am I too paranoid?
Note: This app lets you turn the driver mode off and on, but I still have not been able to test an actual copy. Right now I’m working off the information they provided to me via email and trying to gather community thoughts on its usefulness.
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I have wished for an “out-of-office” style mobile app that would tell callers and texters that you are driving and will return their call when you are safely stopped (with the caveat that there would be some way for emergency calls to get through– even if your college frat buddies would take major advantage of that feature…!) …
I think this kind of thing should be implemented nationally by the government. We have a national speed limit. We should have a system that makes all phones incapable of manual input above 5mph. I guess an app will have to do for now. It's a good idea. There should always be access to emergency assistance though. No one's gonna be crank calling or texting 911 while driving so that might as well be accessible no matter what. Worrying about force closes is pointless. My clock widget can lock up my phone. We have to improve the PHONES so they are more reliable. Perhaps when dual-core arrives, one core can be dedicated to the phone dialer at all times (and nothing else). Once you have multitasking, you have the potential for memory leaks and crashes. So I say stick with the app idea that keeps our eyes on the road and push the handset makers to build phones that don't allow the dialer to fail.
I think this is a great idea. But, by “emergency calls”, that should mean you select what numbers go through and which don't.
I think this is a great idea. But, by “emergency calls”, that should mean you select what numbers go through and which don't.