Apple recently announced a patent that would help alleviate texting while walking mishaps, but the announcement this week of a patent that would address the far more dangerous problem of texting while driving is far more interesting.
This latest Apple patent involves the use of an in-car automated system that would disable certain smartphone functions when an iPhone user is driving.
The patent explains the development of a technology involving a driver handheld computing device lock-out system that essentially detects when a user is driving using on-board sensors or pulling information from the car when connected. The use of text messaging or using other smartphone functions from the person driving is instantly blocked for the driver.
Texting while driving is now the leading cause of death among teenagers, surpassing drinking and driving, according to a 2013 study by Cohen Children's Medical Center. Some of the disturbing statistics from the report include the fact more than 3,000 teens die each year in crashes caused by texting while driving compared with approximately 2,700 teens killed in drunk driving accidents. Shockingly, more than 50 percent of teens admit to texting while driving.
Along with the Apple patent, we have seen some solid solutions come to market that may potentially be saving lives on the deadly texting while driving front, including Scosche's CellControl, a product that combines hardware and software to make driving safer by restricting cell phone operation. Also in that category is Sprint's Drive First device, an Android-based app created by Location Labs that costs $2/month that is designed to lock the driver's cell phone screen and redirect calls to voice mail, block text-message alerts and auto-respond to the message sender that the driver is currently unavailable.
The aforementioned Apple patent that is looking to combat the far less serious, albeit annoying, problem of texting while walking involves the development of what Apple calls a "transparent texting" system that has the app's background modified to display video images continuously captured by the iPhone's rear-facing camera. This technology is essentially combining the video camera and texting app into one feature as the text message appears over the live video feed in the background.
