CB HI

Not very effective.

Rollfast

I hope not. iPhones aren't edible, even with bacon cases.

genec

No requirement to use that specific resource, but...
An outside audit is required... just doesn't have to be B Labs.
Here is a little blog on it...
apple benefit corporation

jefnvk

I can't speak as to what Apple has patented, but this is correct. Technology does exist, I've demoed it, it is actually pretty nifty. It will probably be in out company's fully integrated automotive infotainment systems in the next couple years, for purposes such as allowing the passenger but not the driver to manipulate the in-dash GPS system while the car is in motion.

The problem with bringing it to cell phones is simple: coming up with one standard for everyone to play with. Our competitors presumably have similar systems that they want to push as the standard, and once you get the auto world to agree on one setup you'd have to get all the phone makers on board to implement the technology necessary on the phone to make it work.

corrado33

DING DING DING!

How many people would buy a phone that would not let you use a phone while it was moving no matter what?

Not many.

What if the person is the passenger? How many parents would buy a child a phone they couldn't use in the car? The only way this will ever work is if the CAR has technologies that interface with the phone to let the phone know where it is in the car. Letting the phone "see" where it is? What if you covered those ports? Phone can't see, phone can't stop you from using it.

Now answer me this. How many car companies will put this into their car for the sake of their "drivers."

Ford: "We're going to install this new safety device that prevents you from using your phone in your car, AND we're going to charge you a PREMIUM for it."

Yeah, that'll go over well.

Even IF the phone could see where it was, what about people who travel between left and right driving countries? Will there be a setting that allows you to set which side you drive on? Who in their right mind would constantly switch the setting instead of just switching the option "OFF." "Oh but the phones have GPS so it'll know which country it's in." Yeah I'm SURE the users will be happy that the phone is constantly checking where it is....

One of the main problems of locating the phone in the car is that people place their phones in different places in the car. In my one car, my phone is always on the passenger's seat (if I'm alone) because that's where the aux cord comes out. In the other car, it's in the cupholder in the center console or in my pocket. Now, that spans the entire width of the car, how will the phone know I'm driving if it can be almost anywhere in the car when I'm using it?

What would work would be some sort of electrical signal passed through the driver's body by touching the steering wheel. (And before you go all conspiracy theory on me, you can do this in PERFECTLY safe ways... At home BMI scales do it...) Phones detect this signal when touched, and refuse to work.

Lastly, there is the "emergency" argument. I don't really think I need to explain this one.

Basically this comes down to "People need to stop being stupid and take their own welfare into their own hands." How much technology has been developed to protect stupid people from themselves? (Or other people from stupid people?) It's ridiculous. Technology is trending to simple, dumbed down devices that anybody can use and no one can hurt themselves with because people are idiots.

jefnvk

That is exactly how our system works.

TheLibrarian

Most people don't see paying more to be nannied as a positive. Something you might want others to have but no one wants to be told what to do or be controlled themselves. To force it on people would likely drive sales down and how does the phone know who is driving, then you have using your maps and switching music from your bluetooth which is little different than changing your radio station which could be distracting in itself but we never worried about people switching out their 8 tracks. I hate changing to disc 2 of a book on cd but wouldn't want some device preventing me from trying on the highway.

Maelochs

If that system ever does get implemented there will be an app which hacks it and defeats it within about three hours of release.

KD5NRH

Assumes people a) have new cars and b) don't immediately disable whatever makes this possible.

Because Tesla is doing so well with visual sensors.

KD5NRH

And sales of $6 vinyl steering wheel covers go through the roof.

jefnvk

It is actually transmitted through the seat.

In any case, hands on wheel detection systems are coming soon too with the rise of autonomous vehicles, where the car will go into various safe modes if your hands are off it for too long.

KD5NRH

So thick cushions.

That'll go over like a lead balloon in the sunny South. Light colored fabric covers aren't for looks around here; you can't touch the black rubber wheel with bare hands in the summer until the A/C cools it off enough.

jefnvk

Meh, the thing is going to work through winter clothing. I suppose you can always find a way to defeat it, but like seatbelt chimes and traction control systems people will just come to accept it.

KD5NRH

Clipping the wires to the speaker takes care of the chimes, and most TCS I've dealt with was on its own fuse. Of course, rechipping will fix pretty much any software annoyance.

nycphotography

Just because you can boil the frogs before they notice doesn't make it right to do it.

fietsbob

Its your fault , If You bought shares of Apple , early enough you could save your self..






All auto makers could have a RFI blocking function that comes on when you start the engine. too.
so Phones, voice and text would not work .

but would when you pull over, stop, and turn off the engine.





./.

Maelochs

A lot of the ideas here seem to be based on the assumption that most people are too stupid to drive.

Why flock around with phones that won't work in the car when what we need are cars that don't work with people in them?

Self-driving cars cannot get here soon enough.

howsteepisit

Many States now allow B corps, all need independent auditing, plus require specific goals and planning as far a social issues and corporate giving are concerned. They are vastly effective ways to run businesses is you do not like the Milton Friedman view that the sole purpose of a corporation is to make the highest rate of return consistent with the law. But this quickly digresses into a political realm.

Moe Zhoost

Sounds plausible technically, but I doubt that, unless forced through regulation, companies would attempt to market this. Why not just enforce the laws that are already in the books?

cellery

Everyone likes lists! Heres my list of why Apple (or any other companies interested in growth) would never implement this:

1) rail systems, busses, planes, other fast public transport...boats?
2) bicyclsts go over X speed too.
3) E911 service is mandated by law
4) Ability to turn off sensors/GPS
5 3rd party communication apps that utilize various data streams on the device (do you want all phones effectively on 'airplane mode' above a certain speed when using GPS navigation is legal and useful? How about in a parking lot when I'm going 5-10 mph - does it constantly toggle on/off/on/off as I move through stop and go traffic?)
5) Jailbreak/rootkits (phone side, car-side)
6) Flip phones are becoming vogue again (for real)... How you gonna disable them even though they can text while driving?
7) Privacy issues, nuff said
8) Battery issues - this will require constant use of a GPS chip and accelerometers. For it to be accurate, data points will have to be taken often.
9) Market pressure - no phone company is going to mandate restricted access unless they all agree, somehow, at the same time to do it.
10) Lack of regulation (see the NRA vs. anti-gun lobby for what that process might look like)
11) It's not really on the radar of anyone except a tiny minority (like less then 1% modal share of "serious" riders who give a crap)
12) people are still idiots behind the wheel without phones.
13) proper driver training would solve A LOT of this problem (most drivers are not very good drivers when they ARE paying attention)
14) A robust enforcement regime would solve A LOT of this problem (most driving offenses go unchecked)

So sure, it's the phones. Disable the phones. That will fix our straight-up idiotic and entitled distracted driving populace.

KD5NRH

Yup; I'd guess that for every imbecile on the phone, there's another just as bad without a phone.

nycphotography

Keep in mind that every wants strict enforcement... for everyone EXCEPT for themselves.

jon c. 

I'm still using the same one I've had since the turn of the century. Nice to know instead of being archaic I'm now becoming in fashion again.

Although there's no way I could see the screen well enough to read it while driving.