5 ms·

I hate to see products like these promoted because the creators are making bloodmoney. Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phon

by Yxven 12y ago

I hate to see products like these promoted because the creators are making bloodmoney. Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phone or playing with the buttons when he had an accident. They are dangerous because they encourage your mind to wander. Most people's brains are really not good at multitasking. (Try patting your head while rubbing your belly counterclockwise) Anything that takes your mind away from the road when you're driving even if you can see the road is dangerous. (They found that talking to someone in a passenger seat is not as dangerous because if they notice danger and you don't, they'll inform you of the danger automatically by tensing up or whatever.) If your brain worked like a single process cpu, it would be like setting Twitter to high priority while relegating driving your 2-ton SUV to low priority. It will work well enough most of the time, but sooner or later, you'll crash the SUV. (Source: BS in psychology)

mden 12y ago
"Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phone or playing with the buttons when he had an accident. They are dangerous because they encourage your mind to wander." So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? I'm sorry but experience and common sense says otherwise. I would also argue that your second point is not as not clear cut either. Having some sort of distraction is definitely helpful most of the time when driving long distances. I personally find audio books very greatly help to fight off monotony, which in turn keeps my attention higher than if I was not being distracted.
- brown9-2 12y ago
  So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? This is a false choice and something that the person you are replying to never said.
- Mahn 12y ago
  > So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? The point is that anything that distracts your mind/vision from the road is dangerous, be it looking at your phone or reading a tweet in a transparent HUD display. What Navdy is building, while interesting, isn't necessarily safer.
  - mden 12y ago
    I agree with what you are saying and you shouldn't be reading messages or w/e when driving, but surely looking away from the road is more dangerous than not? In the very least it takes more time. Again I'm not encouraging the behavior, just saying not all distraction are equivalent...
- markbao 12y ago
  Don't downvote mden if you disagree. > So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? I'm not OP, but it's not that your mind is wandering per se (which suggests a neutral state) but your mind is actively focused on something other than the road, like an HUD in front of your face. Peeking at the next turn on nav mode is not a big deal, but if you're composing a text using voice, I'll bet anyone $100 that the voice recognition isn't good enough that you won't be staring at the screen to check it's getting the right words. The thing I dislike most about this product is that it deludes people into thinking this is a "safe" way to operate your phone and text while driving, and basically gives permission to do so. No way to text while driving is safe, not really even at red lights.
  - mden 12y ago
    Hmm. I think I took Yxven's comment out of context which in turn made my comment out of context. I agree that interruptions like reading a text message are dangerous regardless of how they are done. They are obviously more dangerous if you have to take your eyes off the road to do it is what I was saying. In regards to long trips, I still maintain that having a distraction like music, audio books, or company to talk to is actually safer than not having them. Your brain getting tired of monotonous activity and scenery is a real thing as anyone who's done a 10 hour drive can tell you. But again my comment wasn't really in the same context as the parent I guess, so there's that.
    - TeMPOraL 12y ago
      > In regards to long trips, I still maintain that having a distraction like music, audio books, or company to talk to is actually safer than not having them. Your brain getting tired of monotonous activity and scenery is a real thing as anyone who's done a 10 hour drive can tell you. This is of course true, and I noticed that drivers anticipating longer trips often like to take someone with them so that the passenger can keep them awake and concentrated. But then again, on a long trip you really should make those 30-minute stops every 3 hours or so.
    - 12y ago
- dogecoinbase 12y ago
  I'm sorry but experience and common sense says otherwise. Whenever you find yourself saying this, particularly in response to an expert in the field, that is the time to stop and listen instead of talking.
korzun 12y ago
> BS in psychology Ah yes. Do you also give philosophical advice by any chance? Displays like this are standard on a lot of high end performance vehicles. The teams who worked on stuff like this can run circles around your BS in psychology. I drove cars with this technology and it's actually better since you don't have to look down at the wheel or at the awkwardly mounted portable GPS/phone that usually falls off the mount every other day. http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2013/showroom/driver_assistance/head_up_display.html http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2013/s...
- zecho 12y ago
  I'd be willing to bet no auto manufacturer will ever integrate twitter in their HUDs.
- theflubba 12y ago
  This.
goblin89 12y ago
> Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phone or playing with the buttons when he had an accident. They are dangerous because they encourage your mind to wander. I'm going to speculate that driving is such an activity that doesn't require constant attention and involves quite a bit of monotony. In such circumstances, mind wandering will happen—be there a mobile phone, Navdy, or nothing at all. This is a human factor. The only complete solution to this issue seems to be self-driving cars, when your mind and its wandering are taken out of equation. With that in mind, a mobile phone doesn't seem to stand equal to other causes of mind-wandering, contrary to your claim. A phone also obstructs large portions of the road from your view when you're using it.
- hbosch 12y ago
  > I'm going to speculate that driving is such an activity that doesn't require constant attention... Stop there. What would lead you to this speculation? Of course driving requires constant attention and care, the full time you are behind the wheel of an automobile. You're piloting a 2 ton machine made of whirling metal and filled with flammable liquid traveling at high speeds, usually within less than a meter of someone else doing the same. There is never a good reason to divert attention from the task of driving while you are driving. Full stop.
  - goblin89 12y ago
    > Stop there. What would lead you to this speculation? First, I should've put “constant and full attention” there. My phrasing was off. As to why I came to this conclusion: 1. People often ride for a few hours without breaks. My assumption is that it's not possible to pay constant and full attention throughout this time—our minds are bound to wander. 2. The pattern I usually observe is when the driver, depending on road situation, varies the degree of attention they pay to the driving. At one time they're driving relaxedly and multitasking (talking to a passenger or someone on the phone—by definition they're not paying their full attention at this time), while at another they're more or less concentrated on the road. Disclaimer—I don't myself drive a car, but I often observe people driving. I've observed both experienced drivers who drive frequently and more beginning drivers, the pattern described under (2) is the same. Update: the comments here, coupled with my observations, make me believe—roughly—that a) drivers don't (can't) pay their full and constant attention to the road, and b) many are in denial of (a).
leephillips 12y ago
This will make driving safer for me. I'm already checking my speedometer and other instruments and often use a GPS. Now I can do all that while not removing focus from the road. This looks like a great device and the pre-order price is fantastic. And yes, I have no problem with the head patting/belly rubbing. Have you ever seen a cop driving a patrol car? He's juggling radios, phones, a computer with a big screen for looking up warrants and stuff, entering plate numbers, looking out the windows for suspicious behavior - the actual road is a mere distraction. People can learn to manage their divided attention, and if they can't handle checking a speedometer without crashing into the guardrail they probably shouldn't be driving. That said, I wouldn't use this to text while driving. Seeing who's calling and waving my hand to answer for a brief "I'll be there in 10 minutes" seems reasonable, however, and is safer than fumbling with the phone the old-fashioned way.
- danielweber 12y ago
  Do cops really type things into a computer and read the results while in motion?
  - MichaelApproved 12y ago
    Yes. Deputy who killed former Napster COO after drifting into the bike lane while distracted by his laptop will not face charges because he was answering a work-related email - Milton Olin Jr, 65, was fatally struck by a Los Angeles county sheriff's patrol car December 8, 2013, as he rode in the bike lane in Calabasas - Deputy Anthony Wood was returning from a fire call when he took his eyes off the road to type a work-related message on an electronic device - Olin was director of operations for Napster between 2000 and 2002 and was a prominent entertainment lawyer - The victim's wife and sons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming Wood was negligent Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2736376/Deputy-killed-former-Napster-COO-drifting-bike-lane-distracted-laptop-NOT-face-charges-answering-work-related-email.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2736376/Deputy-kille...
    - untog 12y ago
soup10 12y ago
Associating this product with blood money is highly offensive and it's disappointing that this is the top comment. The team behind this has put a lot of sweat and tears into making this a reality, as is always the case when starting a business of any complexity, and especially true in tech when operating in uncharted waters. The important tech is heads up display projected rendering on glass in a car. As long as that works well there will be good applications beyond reading twitter. safety information, car and dashboard alerts, and gps map information all come to mind. Anyone who has ever played a video game should be familiar with HUDs that help you and aren't distracting.
- rhizome 12y ago
  The team behind this has put a lot of sweat and tears into making this a reality, as is always the case when starting a business of any complexity, and especially true in tech when operating in uncharted waters. As long as we're being figurative, a lot of sweat and tears have gone into missile design and prison labor contracts. And this is not completely uncharted waters, phone-HUD has been a thing for years now.
  - pscsbs 12y ago
    Ah yes, a heads-up display for cars is just like a missile or a prison.
    - backlava 12y ago
      As analogies between analogies go, this is like comparing the comparison of Charlie Chaplin's mustache to Hitler's mustache to the comparison of Charlie Chaplin and Hitler.
      - rhizome 12y ago
        No, it's more like saying that a toothbrush mustache (look it up) does not make one a criminal against humanity nor a comedian.
- 12y ago
JonoBB 12y ago
No, this is only partly true. Driving is primarily a visual activity. If your eyes are not on the road, then your chances of an accident increase. If you are looking down at your mobile, then the chances of an accident increase markedly. Yes, looking at a HUD increases your risk of an accident. The best option is to have 100% attention focused on the road and your surroundings. If I had to choose between mobile or HUD, HUD would win every single time. If I had to choose between HUD and nothing distracting, then obviously the later is better. Yeah, just put the freaking phone away when you are driving.
raz32dust 12y ago
I agree with you in that navdy will not eliminate risk of attention loss. But at least it should reduce the attention loss. Sure, any kind of attention loss is not acceptable in theory. But if navdy is found to reduce attention only as much as say talking to a co-passenger, then may be it's not a bad trade-off. Like one of the other commenters said, we cannot ensure that drivers have 100% attention. Anything that at least reduces risk is still a good thing.
jacquesm 12y ago
How about the speedometer dial, the fuel and the oil temp gauges? Those need to be checked regularly as well and they occupy mindshare. You even need to focus on them and given that they are a lot closer than the road that takes time away from the road, refocus, then inspect the dials then look back out of the front windshield and re-focus. Driving itself is a multi-tasking effort. The number of buttons and indicators in a car (especially a high end one) can be quite distracting. And not checking your speed diligently where I live gets expensive really quickly, 3 km over the actual limit (as checked by the GPS) will get you a ticket. So I actually drive with the GPS 'on' even when I know perfectly well where I'm going because it checks my speed without me looking at it.
- barrkel 12y ago
  I think the speedo dial is a dangerous distraction when speed cameras are about. I know I focus almost entirely on the speedo and only use peripheral vision for the road ahead when going past a speed camera. When there's no speed camera or other risk of speed trap, I don't pay attention to numeric speed at all. Instead, I drive to the conditions, and approximately follow the speed limit as appropriate - but I may be 5 or 10 over or under depending on how clear the road ahead is of hazards. Fuel, oil and other gauges don't change constantly and don't demand attention with flashing and animations, unless something is seriously wrong - in which case the vehicle should be stopped. I should add, though, I don't actually drive. I ride a motorcycle and scooter, daily, all year round in London. Anything less than 100% focus is a quick route to A&E.
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    In NL they claim the speed cameras are for safety. I'd believe that if they put them in places where people go faster than the 'safe speed', but instead they put them in places where there is a ton of traffic. I suspect that there is an economical motive at work here rather than a safety motive but I can't prove that. All I do know is that I spend too much time checking that damn dial. So I fixed that by setting the GPS to warn me with an audible alarm when I get to 1 km over the GPS measured speed compared to the posted limit of the road I'm on (it adjusts those automatically). Very useful.
petilon 12y ago
Totally agree. Any kind of distraction while driving is unsafe. Research has shown that even hands-free phones are unsafe while driving. Here's a much better gadget: http://www.mobileye.com/products/mobileye-5-series/mobileye-560/ http://www.mobileye.com/products/mobileye-5-series/mobileye-...
industriousthou 12y ago
This is pretty accurate, but I think one of the issues with driving is that it's often really... boring. I mean, I know that it's incredibly dangerous, but because I do it for hours every day, I become desensitized to the danger. So, I check out my facebook feed or respond to that text message. Before smart phones, I would pick up a paper book that I had just bought and skim a little 'cause I just couldn't wait to get home. If it weren't that, I might be looking for wildlife out my passenger-side window or fiddling with the radio, etc. I guess I'm a bad person, but I'm pretty confident that I'm not the only one. My guess is that a device like this that can keep your attention without diverting your eyes from the road is, in general, going to improve safety. Of course, I could be wrong.
icelancer 12y ago
>(Try patting your head while rubbing your belly counterclockwise) What? This was exceedingly easy to do. And I've never heard of this.
- Yxven 12y ago
  Most people have difficulty with it initially, but it's not difficult to make it harder. Try doing all that while rotating one leg clockwise.
  - icelancer 12y ago
    Did it on the first attempt, switched hands and legs without difficulty either. And I usually suck doing anything with my non-dominant limbs. Must be all the piracetam.
gamzer 12y ago
Looking at something indeed doesn't mean paying attention to it. That's why head-up displays can be dangerous (just like handsfree phone usage). Daniel Simons, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, says this in his episode of the You Are Not So Smart podcast: http://youarenotsosmart.com/2012/04/24/yanss-podcast-episode-one/ http://youarenotsosmart.com/2012/04/24/yanss-podcast-episode... Head-up displays are discussed starting at 12:31. If I remember correctly, pilots were at danger to miss planes on the runway while using a head-up display. "Even pilots use it – it's safe." Is it?
afro88 12y ago
It is more dangerous to not look at the road than to look at it. Surely. This is safer than looking at a phone. I agree that it has the same inherent problem of distracting the driver with other tasks and making it easier for your mind to wander. But it's still a step up. Perhaps they should make it a "driving tasks only" device. Speed, navigation etc. But unfortunately the law allow devices in the car that provide other information and services as long as they're hands free and they're not playing video. While the law allows it, people will fill that gap and these guys would fail miserably by ignoring that side of the market. Edit: I read comments further down that enlightened me to the point of view that this creates the illusion of safely texting while driving, and people may be texting and tweeting more while driving, distracting them more rather than less. The laws need to change.
flexie 12y ago
Bloodmoney? No-one died just yet from Navdy. I love to see this kind of technology on HN and not just apps that play with pictures, videos or text.
wuliwong 12y ago
Yea but your brain doesn't work at all like a single process cpu.

by Yxven 12y ago

mden 12y ago

"Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phone or playing with the buttons when he had an accident. They are dangerous because they encourage your mind to wander." So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? I'm sorry but experience and common sense says otherwise. I would also argue that your second point is not as not clear cut either. Having some sort of distraction is definitely helpful most of the time when driving long distances. I personally find audio books very greatly help to fight off monotony, which in turn keeps my attention higher than if I was not being distracted.

brown9-2 12y ago
So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? This is a false choice and something that the person you are replying to never said.
Mahn 12y ago
> So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? The point is that anything that distracts your mind/vision from the road is dangerous, be it looking at your phone or reading a tweet in a transparent HUD display. What Navdy is building, while interesting, isn't necessarily safer.
- mden 12y ago
  I agree with what you are saying and you shouldn't be reading messages or w/e when driving, but surely looking away from the road is more dangerous than not? In the very least it takes more time. Again I'm not encouraging the behavior, just saying not all distraction are equivalent...
markbao 12y ago
Don't downvote mden if you disagree. > So you are claiming that having to look away from the road for possibly whole seconds to deal with a phone is not really dangerous, but what is dangerous is your mind wandering? I'm not OP, but it's not that your mind is wandering per se (which suggests a neutral state) but your mind is actively focused on something other than the road, like an HUD in front of your face. Peeking at the next turn on nav mode is not a big deal, but if you're composing a text using voice, I'll bet anyone $100 that the voice recognition isn't good enough that you won't be staring at the screen to check it's getting the right words. The thing I dislike most about this product is that it deludes people into thinking this is a "safe" way to operate your phone and text while driving, and basically gives permission to do so. No way to text while driving is safe, not really even at red lights.
- mden 12y ago
  Hmm. I think I took Yxven's comment out of context which in turn made my comment out of context. I agree that interruptions like reading a text message are dangerous regardless of how they are done. They are obviously more dangerous if you have to take your eyes off the road to do it is what I was saying. In regards to long trips, I still maintain that having a distraction like music, audio books, or company to talk to is actually safer than not having them. Your brain getting tired of monotonous activity and scenery is a real thing as anyone who's done a 10 hour drive can tell you. But again my comment wasn't really in the same context as the parent I guess, so there's that.
  - TeMPOraL 12y ago
    > In regards to long trips, I still maintain that having a distraction like music, audio books, or company to talk to is actually safer than not having them. Your brain getting tired of monotonous activity and scenery is a real thing as anyone who's done a 10 hour drive can tell you. This is of course true, and I noticed that drivers anticipating longer trips often like to take someone with them so that the passenger can keep them awake and concentrated. But then again, on a long trip you really should make those 30-minute stops every 3 hours or so.
  - 12y ago
dogecoinbase 12y ago
I'm sorry but experience and common sense says otherwise. Whenever you find yourself saying this, particularly in response to an expert in the field, that is the time to stop and listen instead of talking.

korzun 12y ago

> BS in psychology Ah yes. Do you also give philosophical advice by any chance? Displays like this are standard on a lot of high end performance vehicles. The teams who worked on stuff like this can run circles around your BS in psychology. I drove cars with this technology and it's actually better since you don't have to look down at the wheel or at the awkwardly mounted portable GPS/phone that usually falls off the mount every other day. http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2013/showroom/driver_assistance/head_up_display.html http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m5sedan/2013/s...

zecho 12y ago
I'd be willing to bet no auto manufacturer will ever integrate twitter in their HUDs.
theflubba 12y ago
This.

goblin89 12y ago

> Cell phones are not dangerous because the driver was looking at his phone or playing with the buttons when he had an accident. They are dangerous because they encourage your mind to wander. I'm going to speculate that driving is such an activity that doesn't require constant attention and involves quite a bit of monotony. In such circumstances, mind wandering will happen—be there a mobile phone, Navdy, or nothing at all. This is a human factor. The only complete solution to this issue seems to be self-driving cars, when your mind and its wandering are taken out of equation. With that in mind, a mobile phone doesn't seem to stand equal to other causes of mind-wandering, contrary to your claim. A phone also obstructs large portions of the road from your view when you're using it.

hbosch 12y ago
> I'm going to speculate that driving is such an activity that doesn't require constant attention... Stop there. What would lead you to this speculation? Of course driving requires constant attention and care, the full time you are behind the wheel of an automobile. You're piloting a 2 ton machine made of whirling metal and filled with flammable liquid traveling at high speeds, usually within less than a meter of someone else doing the same. There is never a good reason to divert attention from the task of driving while you are driving. Full stop.
- goblin89 12y ago
  > Stop there. What would lead you to this speculation? First, I should've put “constant and full attention” there. My phrasing was off. As to why I came to this conclusion: 1. People often ride for a few hours without breaks. My assumption is that it's not possible to pay constant and full attention throughout this time—our minds are bound to wander. 2. The pattern I usually observe is when the driver, depending on road situation, varies the degree of attention they pay to the driving. At one time they're driving relaxedly and multitasking (talking to a passenger or someone on the phone—by definition they're not paying their full attention at this time), while at another they're more or less concentrated on the road. Disclaimer—I don't myself drive a car, but I often observe people driving. I've observed both experienced drivers who drive frequently and more beginning drivers, the pattern described under (2) is the same. Update: the comments here, coupled with my observations, make me believe—roughly—that a) drivers don't (can't) pay their full and constant attention to the road, and b) many are in denial of (a).

leephillips 12y ago

This will make driving safer for me. I'm already checking my speedometer and other instruments and often use a GPS. Now I can do all that while not removing focus from the road. This looks like a great device and the pre-order price is fantastic. And yes, I have no problem with the head patting/belly rubbing. Have you ever seen a cop driving a patrol car? He's juggling radios, phones, a computer with a big screen for looking up warrants and stuff, entering plate numbers, looking out the windows for suspicious behavior - the actual road is a mere distraction. People can learn to manage their divided attention, and if they can't handle checking a speedometer without crashing into the guardrail they probably shouldn't be driving. That said, I wouldn't use this to text while driving. Seeing who's calling and waving my hand to answer for a brief "I'll be there in 10 minutes" seems reasonable, however, and is safer than fumbling with the phone the old-fashioned way.

danielweber 12y ago
Do cops really type things into a computer and read the results while in motion?
- MichaelApproved 12y ago
  Yes. Deputy who killed former Napster COO after drifting into the bike lane while distracted by his laptop will not face charges because he was answering a work-related email - Milton Olin Jr, 65, was fatally struck by a Los Angeles county sheriff's patrol car December 8, 2013, as he rode in the bike lane in Calabasas - Deputy Anthony Wood was returning from a fire call when he took his eyes off the road to type a work-related message on an electronic device - Olin was director of operations for Napster between 2000 and 2002 and was a prominent entertainment lawyer - The victim's wife and sons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming Wood was negligent Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2736376/Deputy-killed-former-Napster-COO-drifting-bike-lane-distracted-laptop-NOT-face-charges-answering-work-related-email.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2736376/Deputy-kille...
  - untog 12y ago

soup10 12y ago

Associating this product with blood money is highly offensive and it's disappointing that this is the top comment. The team behind this has put a lot of sweat and tears into making this a reality, as is always the case when starting a business of any complexity, and especially true in tech when operating in uncharted waters. The important tech is heads up display projected rendering on glass in a car. As long as that works well there will be good applications beyond reading twitter. safety information, car and dashboard alerts, and gps map information all come to mind. Anyone who has ever played a video game should be familiar with HUDs that help you and aren't distracting.

rhizome 12y ago
The team behind this has put a lot of sweat and tears into making this a reality, as is always the case when starting a business of any complexity, and especially true in tech when operating in uncharted waters. As long as we're being figurative, a lot of sweat and tears have gone into missile design and prison labor contracts. And this is not completely uncharted waters, phone-HUD has been a thing for years now.
- pscsbs 12y ago
  Ah yes, a heads-up display for cars is just like a missile or a prison.
  - backlava 12y ago
    As analogies between analogies go, this is like comparing the comparison of Charlie Chaplin's mustache to Hitler's mustache to the comparison of Charlie Chaplin and Hitler.
    - rhizome 12y ago
      No, it's more like saying that a toothbrush mustache (look it up) does not make one a criminal against humanity nor a comedian.
12y ago

JonoBB 12y ago

No, this is only partly true. Driving is primarily a visual activity. If your eyes are not on the road, then your chances of an accident increase. If you are looking down at your mobile, then the chances of an accident increase markedly. Yes, looking at a HUD increases your risk of an accident. The best option is to have 100% attention focused on the road and your surroundings. If I had to choose between mobile or HUD, HUD would win every single time. If I had to choose between HUD and nothing distracting, then obviously the later is better. Yeah, just put the freaking phone away when you are driving.

raz32dust 12y ago

I agree with you in that navdy will not eliminate risk of attention loss. But at least it should reduce the attention loss. Sure, any kind of attention loss is not acceptable in theory. But if navdy is found to reduce attention only as much as say talking to a co-passenger, then may be it's not a bad trade-off. Like one of the other commenters said, we cannot ensure that drivers have 100% attention. Anything that at least reduces risk is still a good thing.

jacquesm 12y ago

How about the speedometer dial, the fuel and the oil temp gauges? Those need to be checked regularly as well and they occupy mindshare. You even need to focus on them and given that they are a lot closer than the road that takes time away from the road, refocus, then inspect the dials then look back out of the front windshield and re-focus. Driving itself is a multi-tasking effort. The number of buttons and indicators in a car (especially a high end one) can be quite distracting. And not checking your speed diligently where I live gets expensive really quickly, 3 km over the actual limit (as checked by the GPS) will get you a ticket. So I actually drive with the GPS 'on' even when I know perfectly well where I'm going because it checks my speed without me looking at it.

barrkel 12y ago
I think the speedo dial is a dangerous distraction when speed cameras are about. I know I focus almost entirely on the speedo and only use peripheral vision for the road ahead when going past a speed camera. When there's no speed camera or other risk of speed trap, I don't pay attention to numeric speed at all. Instead, I drive to the conditions, and approximately follow the speed limit as appropriate - but I may be 5 or 10 over or under depending on how clear the road ahead is of hazards. Fuel, oil and other gauges don't change constantly and don't demand attention with flashing and animations, unless something is seriously wrong - in which case the vehicle should be stopped. I should add, though, I don't actually drive. I ride a motorcycle and scooter, daily, all year round in London. Anything less than 100% focus is a quick route to A&E.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  In NL they claim the speed cameras are for safety. I'd believe that if they put them in places where people go faster than the 'safe speed', but instead they put them in places where there is a ton of traffic. I suspect that there is an economical motive at work here rather than a safety motive but I can't prove that. All I do know is that I spend too much time checking that damn dial. So I fixed that by setting the GPS to warn me with an audible alarm when I get to 1 km over the GPS measured speed compared to the posted limit of the road I'm on (it adjusts those automatically). Very useful.

petilon 12y ago

Totally agree. Any kind of distraction while driving is unsafe. Research has shown that even hands-free phones are unsafe while driving. Here's a much better gadget: http://www.mobileye.com/products/mobileye-5-series/mobileye-560/ http://www.mobileye.com/products/mobileye-5-series/mobileye-...

industriousthou 12y ago

This is pretty accurate, but I think one of the issues with driving is that it's often really... boring. I mean, I know that it's incredibly dangerous, but because I do it for hours every day, I become desensitized to the danger. So, I check out my facebook feed or respond to that text message. Before smart phones, I would pick up a paper book that I had just bought and skim a little 'cause I just couldn't wait to get home. If it weren't that, I might be looking for wildlife out my passenger-side window or fiddling with the radio, etc. I guess I'm a bad person, but I'm pretty confident that I'm not the only one. My guess is that a device like this that can keep your attention without diverting your eyes from the road is, in general, going to improve safety. Of course, I could be wrong.

icelancer 12y ago

>(Try patting your head while rubbing your belly counterclockwise) What? This was exceedingly easy to do. And I've never heard of this.

Yxven 12y ago
Most people have difficulty with it initially, but it's not difficult to make it harder. Try doing all that while rotating one leg clockwise.
- icelancer 12y ago
  Did it on the first attempt, switched hands and legs without difficulty either. And I usually suck doing anything with my non-dominant limbs. Must be all the piracetam.

gamzer 12y ago

Looking at something indeed doesn't mean paying attention to it. That's why head-up displays can be dangerous (just like handsfree phone usage). Daniel Simons, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, says this in his episode of the You Are Not So Smart podcast: http://youarenotsosmart.com/2012/04/24/yanss-podcast-episode-one/ http://youarenotsosmart.com/2012/04/24/yanss-podcast-episode... Head-up displays are discussed starting at 12:31. If I remember correctly, pilots were at danger to miss planes on the runway while using a head-up display. "Even pilots use it – it's safe." Is it?

afro88 12y ago

It is more dangerous to not look at the road than to look at it. Surely. This is safer than looking at a phone. I agree that it has the same inherent problem of distracting the driver with other tasks and making it easier for your mind to wander. But it's still a step up. Perhaps they should make it a "driving tasks only" device. Speed, navigation etc. But unfortunately the law allow devices in the car that provide other information and services as long as they're hands free and they're not playing video. While the law allows it, people will fill that gap and these guys would fail miserably by ignoring that side of the market. Edit: I read comments further down that enlightened me to the point of view that this creates the illusion of safely texting while driving, and people may be texting and tweeting more while driving, distracting them more rather than less. The laws need to change.

flexie 12y ago

Bloodmoney? No-one died just yet from Navdy. I love to see this kind of technology on HN and not just apps that play with pictures, videos or text.

wuliwong 12y ago

Yea but your brain doesn't work at all like a single process cpu.