Infotainment systems are a big focus of the auto industry right now. The advent of the connected car means large screens are replacing the traditional car stereo, bringing the Internet into our vehicles. Tech companies like Apple and Google are getting in on the act, too.
Ars editor Ron Amadeo has been trying out Google's Android Auto infotainment system, and he took the view that the power of the system is being unfairly crippled by safety concerns. This view isn't universal across the office, however; some of us are skeptical about whether our fellow road users will remain focused on driving rather than on their screens. This dissenting view is bolstered by a recent publication from a trio of researchers at Florida State University (FSU). Cary Stothart and colleagues have looked at how simply receiving a message notification affects one's attention, and the results aren't good news for those who think they can multitask behind the wheel.
Beyond a small minority of drivers, most of us are terrible at driving and doing anything else at the same time. Distracted-driving legislation has banned using hand-operated cell phones in cars in many states. Consequently, automakers, Apple, and Google are all pushing voice controls as a solution for a public that seems to have no desire to stop communicating on their commutes. But even using voice control appears to be little safer than button pushing; both are dismal compared to simply paying attention to the task of piloting several thousand pounds of steel, something we reported last year.
Read 9 remaining paragraphs | Comments
No comments:
Post a Comment