Steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth handsfree kit hits the FCC

We're not certain that your steering wheel is the best or safest place to attach a handsfree device, but those of you looking to up your Michael Knight factor might be interested in Seecode's new Wheel Bluetooth kit. Featuring a small screen and call-control buttons, the battery-operated unit allows you to chat away on speakerphone, send / end calls, and view your phonebook -- all while (hopefully) keeping your eyes on the road. No word on when these might be available, but check the read link for the usual riveting assortment of FCC docs.

[whowhatme @ Dec 17th 2007 1:11PM]

In other news, cell-phone related traffic accidents up 50% over figures from last year. Full story at 11.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 17th 2007 1:32PM]

PARROT has 4 of these which are REALLY COOL.
I got this one...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Parrot-Hands-Free-Car-Kit-CK3200LS/sem/rpsm/oid/185613/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

on certain sale days Circuit city installs them for free.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:19AM]

the cuplrit, iPHONEs [insert your hated carrier authorized communications parasite symbiot] [flamebait?]

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:36AM]

@@@@Flashpoint: You're living on the edge - you even want a photo to pop-up when a call comes in?

From the link you provided, the first review concludes for me that I would be better off to avoid this product you mentioned :]

[Magallanes @ Dec 17th 2007 1:12PM]

Truly not for a hard steering course (such Initial-D fans).

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:14AM]

if you're an InitialD fan then you should know that the ghost of akina can drive with one hand taped to the steering wheel :]

[Toadlet @ Dec 17th 2007 1:12PM]

Ooh... that'll leave a nice mark on the forehead.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:15AM]

If you're unlucky enough that your airbag either doesn't exist, or does not deploy

[Kennyb123 @ Dec 17th 2007 1:17PM]

Apparently, I'm the only one that LIKES the design? It's right in front of your face, not unlike your dashboard speedometer / gas gauge, etc. It shouldn't result in more crashes, and the speaker is closer for you to hear. Obviously if it sticks OUT from the wheel, it could be dangerous in a crash, but it appears that it could stay flush with the wheel. As long as it doesn't interfere with the airbag, I think it's a nice concept. My $.02...

[Bobs @ Dec 17th 2007 1:19PM]

I dont think its the looks of the device that nobody likes, rather, that its another way to divert much needed focus off of the road and onto whoever your talking to, causing lockups in traffic, and possibly even accidents.

[Kennyb123 @ Dec 17th 2007 1:23PM]

But, is it not better than holding a cell phone to your head? Obviously, not talking on the phone in any manner is going to be safer, but speakerphones are generally considered to be safer because your hands are free to drive and your ears can more easily pick up important road sounds better. (sirens, etc.)

Bluetooth speakerphones are being built into more and more cars, and even after-market head-units now. I guess I haven't seen people being all negative to those. That's why I thought the complaint was specific to this product.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:18AM]

you're pretty close on the mark there

this is within your line of sight, and should not require you to be distracted for too long

I wouldn't mind having my gps synced with this and speed camera locations :] so I get the obligatory warning and a speed readout on the display - too bad about the glare though

[DT @ Dec 17th 2007 1:23PM]

Brilliant...if the goal was to design the world's most effective airbag-launched projectile.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:12AM]

you have failed

[Carlos @ Dec 17th 2007 1:28PM]

Stupid design

- its huge
- blocks the view of your gauge cluster
- will most likely leave marks on the steering wheel
- not compatible with large diameter and wood steering wheels
- Noise from making a turn while talking on it


How about a unit that clips to your sun visor or the steering wheel column instead?

[mike @ Dec 17th 2007 2:32PM]

"not compatible with large diameter and wood steering wheels"

Where do you plan on putting this? A pirate ship?

But in all seriousness despite your very real and legitimate concerns, as long as this doesn't get in the way of my suicide knob i'm all in.

[Carlos @ Dec 17th 2007 5:20PM]

Arrrgh!

Sure, some might consider by black 64 Lincoln continental a pirate ship.

[Jimmy C @ Dec 17th 2007 1:31PM]

This'll be fun when your airbag goes off and it smacks you right in the face...

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:09AM]

it's not gonna do that...

but if your air bag does not go off, or you don't have one - you're in a world of hurt

[Alex @ Dec 17th 2007 1:43PM]

since when do we use the metric system for length, but inches for height? And why did they put it at the end of the rulers?hmm... 100 - 80 cm long, and 27 - 22 inches high. Sort of a microcosm of this device. Stupid.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:10AM]

for shits and giggles

[PG @ Dec 17th 2007 2:12PM]

Havn't some of you people seen steering wheel-mounted stereo controls? This thing clips on INSIDE the wheel at either nine'o'clock or three'o'clock position to be controlled with your thumb. It will not obstruct your view of the instrument cluster and will not act as a projectile if airbag deploys.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:21AM]

partly correct, please view image below:

http://www.seecode.de/bilder/zusatz_seecodewheel_2_big.jpg

[Brian @ Dec 17th 2007 2:59PM]

Cars already have built in bluetooth pickup/hangup buttons built-in to the steering wheel (see the latest Infiniti and BMW models). So this "could" be a add-on for most cars who don't come with this feature (their target market). However, I see a major drawback: looks like it would only fit certain size steering wheels. I assume this picture above is upside down, as it is suppose to fit on the bottom of the steering wheel arc. But that wouldn't work if you had a 3 spoke style wheel. So, if it was suppose to be attached to the top half arc, then I would imagine it would block the view of the instrument panel, right? Unless you like dropping the steering column in your lap, all low ridin' style...

Just another awful bluetooth accessory that's going to collect dust at a retail store near you, IMHO. :-)

[GregA @ Dec 17th 2007 9:11PM]

Who needs the latest BMW or Infinity model when it is available on last years Camry...

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:24AM]

available as options a few years already, and for BMW (including mini, don't have experience with infiniti) your vehicle may come with the handsfree hardware already installed including buttons (but the actual module required is missing) and you can't get one installed either (something about it being required to be installed at time of order)

but yeah - bluetooth is prevalent on a very broad range of vehicles now - toyota camry included

[Kevin @ Dec 17th 2007 4:36PM]

From the orientation of the screen-printing (logos, button icons, etc) this thing is intended to fit into the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock position on the wheel. Right in front of the instrument cluster.

@PG - I have not seen a car steering wheel that did not have a spoke at the 3 or 9 o'clock position, except for my dad's '32 Packard.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:26AM]

carry on there

http://www.seecode.de/bilder/zusatz_seecodewheel_2_big.jpg

[Kevin @ Dec 18th 2007 4:11AM]

Yeah, that thing is enormous. From arm's length, I might be able to see my gas gauge. Nothing else, however.

[Kevin @ Dec 18th 2007 4:14AM]

Is it me, or is this "skhawaja' sounding like some kind of shill for this piece of automotive feces?

[dansus @ Dec 17th 2007 7:56PM]

This thing is clearly dangerous and should be banned.

If you dont know why it is dangerous, then you shouldnt be driving let alone using a phone at the same time.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:25AM]

please elaborate for those of us that don't drive?

[ENIVId @ Dec 17th 2007 10:07PM]

Can't the FCC afford rulers that don't come from a 1970's kindergarten class?

[Martlark @ Dec 17th 2007 11:46PM]

Scientific research has shown that hands free is just as dangerous when driving as a hand held phone. How dangerous? Just as dangerous as a drunk driver.

[skhawaja @ Dec 18th 2007 12:31AM]

as opposed to frat boy research?

anyways - listening to your radio can also be categorized into that stream of thinking.

it all comes down to your ability, or lack there of, to make the right decision based on your driving conditions at the time you are either on a call, or receiving a call - if you can make the choice between receiving a call and paying attention to the driving, well I doubt you could get away with that for very long.

The fear of higher insurance premiums usually keeps people from making bad decisions, also the fact that your vehicle is your only mode of transportation to and from work.

Guns haven't been banned yet, neither is alcohol, so why start with handsfree systems?

[Tom Dibble @ Dec 18th 2007 2:42AM]

"anyways - listening to your radio can also be categorized into that stream of thinking."

Yeah, except that the DJ on the radio doesn't demand an active two-way conversation with you, or ask you to recall last month's sales figures or visualize where the peanut butter was in the pantry when you put it back last. If you are devoting anywhere near as much attention to your radio as the typical person does to a cell phone call, you need to seek psychiatric treatment!

Similarly, having a conversation with someone sitting next to you is less likely to cause an accident, primarily because they are generally aware of the driving conditions and "tone down" the conversation as necessary.

As I've said many times before: it's not one hand holding a device (which can easily be dropped) which causes accidents. It's your mind holding a conversation. Hands-free devices do make you less likely to have an accident by removing the possibility of the reptile mind clutching the phone instead of the steering wheel in an emergency, but they do not make it any less likely for you to get into that emergency situation in the first place.

As Martlark stated, this (that the relative gain from hands-free devices pales in comparison to the remaining risk from conversing while driving with someone who has no idea of what is oing on around you) has been shown scientifically (which is a significant adjective, and means the research was conducted using standard scientific protocols; many "studies" are non-scientific!)

[dansus @ Dec 18th 2007 8:40PM]

The problem with this device for me, is not that its a bluetooth device but that it is a great lump of hardware that sits inside the steering wheel. You know, the thing that you use to steer the car.

[Mouhamad A. Naboulsi @ Jan 7th 2008 1:03AM]

I checked out their site at CES. They claimd that this is a “Quality and ‘design made in Germany’” I will send them a letter telling them to add "American Innovation" since we own the IP on this product.

Checkout www.actplace.net, the USPTO, the EUPO and the Japanese PO.

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi
President, Applikompt
Michigan USA

[Roy @ Feb 7th 2008 9:17PM]

I don't think I will feel comfortable selling this product on my website, looks like a safety issue and a distraction to me. Hand-free speakerphones are a safe way to go.

Website url
http://www.rywirelessheadphones.com
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http://www.rywirelessheadphones.com/index.rss