Intelligent dashboard could shut off distractions to improve reaction times
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 21st 2008 7:21AM
posted Jan 21st 2008 7:21AM
[Image courtesy of TAMU]
posted Jan 21st 2008 7:21AM
What you get from playing Tetris
A new study published by the big thinkers at Mind Research Network has found that "practicing Tetris" can improve brain efficiency and lead to a thicker cortex.
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Nanny-technology is nearly as bad as the Nanny-state.
Where's our technology Ron Paul?
Probably busy being just as batshit insane as the real one.
Building a time machine to go back to the gold standard... duh
Oh Josh, you're so clever...Why don't you come back when you can make an educated point of your own instead of repeating what you heard someone say about him. You probably don't even know why he's "batshit insane."
Of course, the goals of these smart technologies are honorable.
But the problem is - a new generation that becomes so completely dependent on them - that the ability to be proactive and to use common sense is not shapened.
So in essence, when the technologies STOP working - they could potentially suffer more.
:-(
Well instead of just shutting it all off they could easily just turn down the volume slowly and fade out the GPS screen slowly.
Heck, I'm sure they're already testing which way is better.
Awwww man that last bit about 'Welcome to the Jungle' made me LOL XD
It's a good idea but surely the kids are gonna explode if something of theirs gets turned off. That won't remove hecticness in the car, it would make it worse! =P
'Welcome to the Jungle' - I would never think Engadget still remembers classics. Well, I see, long ago, before connecting their brains to the WAN, Engadget editors were people too... ;)
In terms of distracting the driver, the sounds of Thomas and Friends from the backseat is nothing compared to the instant shrieking that would ensue if Thomas was suddenly silenced.
Old news - Volvo have been doing this for some time...
Yep, the Volvo C30 definitely has this... If you are applying the brakes rapidly, or slowing down at any speed above the norm, it will not display any alerts on the dash until driving has returned to a normal status.
Also, I don't agree with Stud Hunk, not for this anyways, this is just one of those 'niceties' that will eventually become the norm (like electric windows), but I do agree that some technologies are being taken for granted, my sister for example, has no idea how to read a map, but she can set a course in a GPS in 5secs, if her GPS failed and was out of cell reception, I'm not sure what she would do!
Not the same thing. Read.
@ Kurtis - Exactly the same thing... You read! It's just applied to more things in the car... Although the Volvo already applies to the GPS and such... so maybe it's not applied to more at all... which means it's EXACTLY THE SAME...
Feel free to back your comment up!
I bet it's just a timer that randomly shuts things off in your car while you drive.
I mean, in that scenario, you're left sitting in a quiet car, saddened by the fact that you failed to do more than one thing at a time...
I can only imagine that when the kid's portable tv shuts off in the middle of their movie, the kid will be somewhat pissed, hence causing an even bigger distraction.
Will it shut off your kids, if they become distractions?
That's a good practical use for the tentacle porn machine I've been making!
Exactly ! It does not need to shut off GPS or iPod. Just shutting off kids will suffice!
now if they could just find a way to remove the driver from the look. a bit like a autopilot for cars...
Does that include sleeping gas for the back seat, for when the kids become too loud?
Evidently everybody posting to this knows exactly what a 'whip' is. Why don't you go ahead and be a real journalist and tell the rest of us what the beep a 'whip' is? I know, that would be like, professional and all. Take the medicine with the message. No more incompetent writers, please!
you fail at life.
It's a blog. If you don't like it, go away.
a 'whip' is a car dan. it's not that hard to figure out the meaning within the context of the article. it is slang for an upgraded car, filled with technology and fancy stuff.
Yet another reason to completely gut out the factory stereo system for a non-nanny-tech aftermarket unit.
Reading the headline and then viewing the photo, I was curious to see what this dashboard did for kids and annoying pasengers. Only to find out it only turns crap off when you don't want it to.
"in order to speed up reaction time "by as much as 100-milliseconds.""
It's too bad that extra 100-milliseconds won't help some of the drivers I've ridden with!
oh what the hell, I might as well say it. The woman's head is in the normal mommy SUV position I see all to often.
Her arm's blocking her chest sideview...
Huh?
When 100 milliseconds becomes the difference between life and death, YOU'RE DRIVING TOO GODDAMN FAST.