Keep Your Car and Mind in Gear

Hardly a day passes without some new report or study being released about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. While texting seems to get most of the headlines, just talking on the phone while driving can be quite distracting. In the spirit of not throwing the first stone, I will admit to taking a call now and then while behind the wheel. I do try to make them brief but that is really not much of an excuse.

Many phones today have what is called “Bluetooth” technology. This allows for hands free operation either by using a wireless earpiece or an interface with your car’s radio. Both allow you to keep your hands on the wheel and at least potentially keep your mind on driving. Unfortunately, you can keep your hands on the wheel but your mind still is distracted.

I give a wide berth to drivers I observe to be deep in conversation. Several times I have followed cars from downtown Cincinnati all the way to Harrison with the driver deep in conversation, hands gesturing, head bobbing, car drifting right and left.

It is not just the highway where the danger lurks. I regularly jog over the lunch hour in downtown Cincinnati and Over the Rhine. I have lost count of the times that I have the right of way with the walk signal at an intersection only to have a driver look right through me and make a right turn into my path. Cell phone in hand, mouth in gear, brain somewhere else.

It is most likely not practical to think that all of us will check our phones at the front car door. There are some things that you can do to lessen the distraction.

Keep the conversation short. “Let me call you back” is an OK response. Never reach for that pen. Most phones record the number of the incoming caller. I won’t even mention texting. If you find yourself sending or reading text messages while driving, consider having your head examined by a professional ASAP.

Remember, just because you are not holding the phone in your hand does not mean that you are not distracted. Remember that thought the next time you are driving home from Cincinnati to Harrison on I-74 and you find that your next exit is Batesville-Oldenberg. “Let me call you back!”

Keep Your Car and Mind in Gear

Hardly a day passes without some new report or study being released about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. While texting seems to get most of the headlines, just talking on the phone while driving can be quite distracting. In the spirit of not throwing the first stone, I will admit to taking a call now and then while behind the wheel. I do try to make them brief but that is really not much of an excuse.

Many phones today have what is called “Bluetooth” technology. This allows for hands free operation either by using a wireless earpiece or an interface with your car’s radio. Both allow you to keep your hands on the wheel and at least potentially keep your mind on driving. Unfortunately, you can keep your hands on the wheel but your mind still is distracted.

I give a wide berth to drivers I observe to be deep in conversation. Several times I have followed cars from downtown Cincinnati all the way to Harrison with the driver deep in conversation, hands gesturing, head bobbing, car drifting right and left.

It is not just the highway where the danger lurks. I regularly jog over the lunch hour in downtown Cincinnati and Over the Rhine. I have lost count of the times that I have the right of way with the walk signal at an intersection only to have a driver look right through me and make a right turn into my path. Cell phone in hand, mouth in gear, brain somewhere else.

It is most likely not practical to think that all of us will check our phones at the front car door. There are some things that you can do to lessen the distraction.

Keep the conversation short. “Let me call you back” is an OK response. Never reach for that pen. Most phones record the number of the incoming caller. I won’t even mention texting. If you find yourself sending or reading text messages while driving, consider having your head examined by a professional ASAP.

Remember, just because you are not holding the phone in your hand does not mean that you are not distracted. Remember that thought the next time you are driving home from Cincinnati to Harrison on I-74 and you find that your next exit is Batesville-Oldenberg. “Let me call you back!”

If It Works, It's Obsolete

The recent antenna problem that seems to be plaguing the new Apple iPhone 4 is certainly not an isolated case. It seems that more and more high tech products develop major flaws right out of the box. We have cars that suddenly accelerate, computers that loose your data, and television sets, once the very paragon of reliability, now have pictures that freeze and look like high tech jig-saw puzzles. I joke with my wife when she laments all the issues with her computer, phone or the TV remote. I just suggest to her that she needs to lower her expectations.

Seriously, it seems to me that this problem of reliability is getting worse and I think I know why.

Perhaps the leading cause of these problems is the complexity of even the simplest of devices. Digital controls and embedded software, once only found in the components of the likes of the Space Shuttle, today find their way into your refrigerator, toaster and coffee maker. Often the features that are made possible by these complex controls are helpful, but too often the Swiss Army Knife approach to adding features can lead to problems. It is one thing to have a refrigerator that knows when to defrost itself. It is another thing to have it automatically contact the store and order a new bottle of mustard when the one on the second shelf is half empty. The problem comes when the mustard ordering feature problem also shuts down the entire refrigerator.

Perhaps more problematic is the fierce competition and rush to get products to market. It seems that the concept of lab and field testing of products before selling them is a novel concept for many. Instead of setting up a panel of consumers to test and evaluate products, many companies now release the product and let those who purchase the product find the problems. So Steve Jobs is able to identify his phone’s propensity to drop calls now that consumers are actually trying to use it. The result of that research will no doubt be integrated into version 2.0 of the iPhone but the people who bought the first model are left holding the bag …or the phone.

For sure, many problems can be fixed with a new software download and as anyone who uses a computer or smart phone knows this happens all the time. Because of this “we can fix it in version 2” mentality, early adopters must be very careful.

A few years ago I came across a quote by Marshall McLuhan that I think sums it up: "If it works, it's obsolete."

If It Works, It's Obsolete

The recent antenna problem that seems to be plaguing the new Apple iPhone 4 is certainly not an isolated case. It seems that more and more high tech products develop major flaws right out of the box. We have cars that suddenly accelerate, computers that loose your data, and television sets, once the very paragon of reliability, now have pictures that freeze and look like high tech jig-saw puzzles. I joke with my wife when she laments all the issues with her computer, phone or the TV remote. I just suggest to her that she needs to lower her expectations.

Seriously, it seems to me that this problem of reliability is getting worse and I think I know why.

Perhaps the leading cause of these problems is the complexity of even the simplest of devices. Digital controls and embedded software, once only found in the components of the likes of the Space Shuttle, today find their way into your refrigerator, toaster and coffee maker. Often the features that are made possible by these complex controls are helpful, but too often the Swiss Army Knife approach to adding features can lead to problems. It is one thing to have a refrigerator that knows when to defrost itself. It is another thing to have it automatically contact the store and order a new bottle of mustard when the one on the second shelf is half empty. The problem comes when the mustard ordering feature problem also shuts down the entire refrigerator.

Perhaps more problematic is the fierce competition and rush to get products to market. It seems that the concept of lab and field testing of products before selling them is a novel concept for many. Instead of setting up a panel of consumers to test and evaluate products, many companies now release the product and let those who purchase the product find the problems. So Steve Jobs is able to identify his phone’s propensity to drop calls now that consumers are actually trying to use it. The result of that research will no doubt be integrated into version 2.0 of the iPhone but the people who bought the first model are left holding the bag …or the phone.

For sure, many problems can be fixed with a new software download and as anyone who uses a computer or smart phone knows this happens all the time. Because of this “we can fix it in version 2” mentality, early adopters must be very careful.

A few years ago I came across a quote by Marshall McLuhan that I think sums it up: "If it works, it's obsolete."

Unfortunately There Is An App For That

Just a few weeks ago the whole e-world was buzzing about the release of the iPhone 4. Lines formed days in advance so that e-geeks of all stripes could be the first on their block to have the very newest smart phone. Heaven forbid you would have a phone still operating on a 3G network even though 4G networks are still quite scarce.

Droids, iPhones, the Pre and many other models have become the “must have” electronic device and with these smart phones come all types of applications software or apps. Some apps are nothing short of awesome, others border on the ridiculous. The list of available apps grows by the hour as software developers in offices and in basements throughout the world write apps for phones.

The term “smart phone” is becoming a real misnomer as the devices do so much more than make phone calls. In fact, for many models, making a phone call may be the one application that the device does not do well. That may be the topic of a future essay.

There are a number of basic apps that you may wish to download to your phone. Most cost less than 5 bucks and can download and install in less than five minutes. For the iPhone they all must pass the Apple “good housekeeping seal of approval” before they are released.

While the Droid, Pre and other less popular phones have plenty of apps, the number doesn’t come close to the iPhone offerings. Nevertheless, you can get the most helpful apps for most any phone.

Right now on my Pre Plus I have an app that gives me the local weather, keep me abreast of local and national news, plays music from various radio stations, displays my current location on a map and helps me tune my guitar. Of course, I also have my calendar and address book loaded as well.

I have a friend who has hundreds of apps loaded on his iPhone and delights in wowing his friends by using his iPhone as a flute or imagining himself on the bridge of the starship Enterprise using his iPhone as a tricorder. Not my cup of tea, Captain Kirk.

The smart phone is quickly becoming the Swiss Army Knife of business. The computing power is derived from both the sophistication of the device design and the network to which it is connected. Look for specialized apps in the medical diagnostic field to come to market soon. Who knows, the next time you call your doctor he or she may be able to check out all your vital signs via your phone. Perhaps that tricorder isn’t such a bad idea.

Unfortunately There Is An App For That

Just a few weeks ago the whole e-world was buzzing about the release of the iPhone 4. Lines formed days in advance so that e-geeks of all stripes could be the first on their block to have the very newest smart phone. Heaven forbid you would have a phone still operating on a 3G network even though 4G networks are still quite scarce.

Droids, iPhones, the Pre and many other models have become the “must have” electronic device and with these smart phones come all types of applications software or apps. Some apps are nothing short of awesome, others border on the ridiculous. The list of available apps grows by the hour as software developers in offices and in basements throughout the world write apps for phones.

The term “smart phone” is becoming a real misnomer as the devices do so much more than make phone calls. In fact, for many models, making a phone call may be the one application that the device does not do well. That may be the topic of a future essay.

There are a number of basic apps that you may wish to download to your phone. Most cost less than 5 bucks and can download and install in less than five minutes. For the iPhone they all must pass the Apple “good housekeeping seal of approval” before they are released.

While the Droid, Pre and other less popular phones have plenty of apps, the number doesn’t come close to the iPhone offerings. Nevertheless, you can get the most helpful apps for most any phone.

Right now on my Pre Plus I have an app that gives me the local weather, keep me abreast of local and national news, plays music from various radio stations, displays my current location on a map and helps me tune my guitar. Of course, I also have my calendar and address book loaded as well.

I have a friend who has hundreds of apps loaded on his iPhone and delights in wowing his friends by using his iPhone as a flute or imagining himself on the bridge of the starship Enterprise using his iPhone as a tricorder. Not my cup of tea, Captain Kirk.

The smart phone is quickly becoming the Swiss Army Knife of business. The computing power is derived from both the sophistication of the device design and the network to which it is connected. Look for specialized apps in the medical diagnostic field to come to market soon. Who knows, the next time you call your doctor he or she may be able to check out all your vital signs via your phone. Perhaps that tricorder isn’t such a bad idea.