If you use handheld devices while driving, at least do it safely: IMS

While the influx of technology into cars has been increasingly taking drivers’ hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, a Waterloo ON-based company is using technology to help put the focus back on driving. Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc.’s (IMS) iLane is a hands- and eyes-free wireless email solution specifically for in-car use. "The bottom line is that for people to be safe they should really concentrate on their driving tasks," says Otman Basir, president and CEO of IMS. "But we do understand that people want to look at their email and answer phone calls , so we wanted to make sure that we addressed that specific group of people and provided them with something that will enhance their safety." What iLane provides is an interface that prompts drivers with a human sounding voice when they have an incoming email and lets them listen and respond to it without taking their hands off the wheel. The iLane device can be placed anywhere in a car as long as it’s plugged into the cigarette lighter. It recognizes the users’ Bluetooth-enabled handheld device as soon as they enter the vehicle, assumes control of how incoming information is handled and communicates with the user through their headset or the car’s audio system. It’s compatible with devices and smartphones running a variety of operating systems including BlackBerry, Palm, Windows Mobile and Symbian. "We wanted to make sure that we provided some means by which the interaction between the user and the device can be efficient to the extent that we don’t want it to become a burden on its own," says Basir. Indeed, the iLane box has no screen, keyboard or any interactive parts, so it certainly can’t be counted as an added distraction in the car, particularly since people are likely to use their handhelds while driving anyway, he added. "If you’re a road warrior and you absolutely insist on doing your email in the car, this is a godsend for you," says Carmi Levy, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "We can debate safety until the cows come home, but the truth of the matter is people are not going to stop using their phones and their mobile technology while they’re in the car." According to the 2003 Nerves of Steel survey commissioned by The Steel Alliance and the Canada Safety Council, 25% of respondents had used a PDA or laptop while driving or seen someone else use one. Clearly this number has increased over the past few years, and while the exact number of accidents caused by the use of handheld devices is hard to pinpoint, increasing driver distractions can only have negative consequences. Another study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released in April 2006 found that almost 80% of crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event. Mobile phone use was found to be the most common distraction, but it only increased the risk of a crash or near-crash by 1.3 times, while reaching for a moving object like a falling cup increased the risk by 9 times. With that in mind, provincial and state governments aren’t likely to ban drinking coffee in vehicles and Levy says widespread bans of mobile technology aren’t likely either. "The ultimate goal of safety advocates is to have no technology at all," he says. "That is absolutely not realistic. So the best-case scenario is to use the technology that we have in the safest manner possible. That’s what gets at." IMS’s history is as a developer of automotive safety solutions such as the Seat Belt Reminder and the Occupant Presence Detector, which could help further position iLane as a safety device, not just another way to push technology into cars. Basir adds that it is advanced over existing hands-free technology in that once integrated with a cell phone iLane will tell the user who is calling so they don’t have to look at the display. The device fully integrates a user’s communications and can present their calendar, as well as incoming email and phone calls in a clear voice. The market for the device is simply anyone who wants to maintain connectivity while in their car and is concerned about being distracted. But Basir doesn’t want the intention of iLane to be misconstrued. "We’re not saying that this device will enhance productivity, that’s not the issue," he says. "The issue that we’re trying to address here is people that feel they are spending a long time in their car and would like to maintain some form of connectivity. This will allow them to do that without compromising their safety." Executives and salespeople are obvious potential users of iLane, but Basir says he’s seen statistics correlating accidents involving younger drivers who have been text messaging while driving. The simplicity of the device means it doesn’t require professional installation or a sophisticated user. He adds: "The fact is people are spending more time in their cars and they need to respond to information coming in, so instead of ignoring the fact, the position that we took is let’s bring a solution that will improve the situation."

If you use handheld devices while driving, at least do it safely: IMS

News | July 27, 2006

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