In-Car Gadgets & Entertainment - Necessary Or Narcissistic?

The idea of entertainment in a car sounds not so bad… if they are used to entertain children and or bored adults on a long and winding road trip. But at what point has technology gone too far when the driver is the one using the entertainment? While driving late at night on a not so busy Los Angeles major freeway I looked to my left to see a driver watching a movie while driving. There were not very many cars on the road but if he was using it to stay awake during the drive, than he was twice the danger of causing an accident.

Typical luxury and family automobiles features a navigation system, DVD player, MP3 player, Bluetooth abilities, HD radio broadcasting, and even Wi-Fi technology. All of these luxuries and entertainments are additional distractions on the road. The gadget distractions have become so bad that laws have already or are now being passed that makes it illegal to text while driving. Seems perfectly logical yet hundreds of drivers still send text messages while driving. I know because I use to be one of them. I stopped after a way too close minor accident could have occurred if I hadn’t looked up at exactly the perfect moment to slam my brakes on. In addition, I now ride passenger on my boyfriend’s motorcycle and the things I witness as a motorcycle passenger leaves me gawking in utter disbelief.

With these thoughts in mind, I have severe doubts about the sensible use of South Korea's new GPS navigation system that is an all-in-one navigation system that allows passengers (or drivers) to watch television on a 7-inch display that also displays photos, plays videos, permit games to be played, controls music selection and now has a digital karaoke machine. The all-in-one navigation system looks beautiful but would any of us be all that surprised to see the driver next to us singing in their car with a microphone in their hand? Thankfully, they're only available in Korea.

On The Other Hand

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi, president Applied Computer Technologies, Inc. believes there is a middle ground that does not compromise safety. He says that his company has developed a system that balances the driving practice with emphasis on safety, while still allowing drivers to use communication & entertainment technologies while driving. Here are the key advantages he lists as luxury and safety features

1- Hands are monitored to be on the steering wheel, otherwise devices are disabled
2- Incoming communications are silenced when Drivers are passing, merging and or changing lanes etc.
3-System is calibrated to the driver’s skills and experience and fits into a cell phone.

In addition, Mouhamad A. Naboulsi makes some very valid and important points that demand attention. He continues by saying

“What we need is to educate our legislative bodies to require a device like ours on every vehicle. Auto manufacturers are aware of our device and some are already using it overseas, to avoid our patents. let's face it, if we turn off our cell phones, we will be passed by Europe, Japan and the rest of the world. We need to stay connected to stay competitive, but we need to do it safely.”

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi president of Applied Computer Technologies, Inc. said that the company is currently looking for capital and for political mentors. If interested, please visit the Applied Computer Technologies, Inc website.




Source: Yahoo Tech: Navigation System features In-Car Karaoke

Cyber Tracker

MySpace Says: will give information for subpoena

When a group of eight state attorneys general sent MySpace a letter May 14 demanding information collected by the site about sex offenders who use the social network, MySpace publicly said they could not provide the information without legal guidelines being followed. However, they encouraged all of the state attorneys to follow the legal necessities so that MySpace could give them what they wanted.

On Monday May 21st 2007 MySpace announced they will indeed now provide the information requested per subpoenas. MySpace Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Angus says the site always intended to provide its sex offender information to the attorneys general but couldn't respond until required to by law. In other words, the company wanted the states to subpoena it for the data. They are after all a business making money and as a matter of law, officials at News Corp.'s (nyse: NWS ) social network said, they could not provide details like the names and addresses of convicted sex offenders who use the site.

However Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal sings a different tune.

"I am pleased that MySpace has heeded our demand, now by subpoena, to provide information about convicted sex offenders and confirm steps to remove them from the site," Blumenthal said in a statement. "Our subpoena compels this information right away--within hours, not weeks, without delay."

Blumenthal said there are currently 5,000 registered, convicted sex offenders with MySpace profiles.

MySpace Vice President and General Counsel Michael Angus says

"For each state it is different, but in some cases we would need a subpoena in order to get this information to them." It has to go through the proper legal processes, and we've worked with the attorneys general to help them determine the right language to make the request."

MySpace has been working with the attorneys general for over a year and began deleting sex offender MySpace profiles on May 2, using its Sentinel SAFE system for checking databases.