Hi-tech overlays for octogenarian cars

[pdora]

On-board electronics are not a feature of Model A automobiles:

Radio - no
Car phone - no
MP3 player - no
Surround sound - no
Global Positioning System - no
WiFi hot spot - no
Precision speedometer - no
Precision odometer - no
Map display - no

All of the above, and much more, are available in a tiny smartphone.

Recently I bought a Droid X phone and have been experimenting with cheap, easily-installed programs called 'apps' or applications.

Warning -- These devices require attention and should not be used by the driver. The Model A already demands full attention and the use of as many hands and feet as are available.

In addition to replacing devices often installed in modern cars, smartphones also offer still camera and video capabilities.

Some apps can monitor performance -- quarter mile time, zero to sixty time. The results here are just plain funny, considering that the apps were designed for muscle cars, hot rods and race cars.

Some of my friends are always up for a ride in the old car. Others have become jaded (been there, done that), but put a smartphone in their hands and a whole new set of thrills beckons.

The smartphone can also be used to keep maintenance logs, fuel consumption data and itinerary notes.

The built-in web browser offers access to the whole world including almost everything car-related.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Instead of encouraging this “tool” I would like to see the car manufacturers put something in the steering wheel to disable cell phones within a two foot diameter. There is a company that is developing just such a device. The only problem is that the FCC says you can’t jam a broadcast.

Trinity Noble is a Pennsylvania-based company that is trying to make a device available to the public that would limit cell phone use while driving. It is a jamming device that only prevents calls in the driver seat area. They want to put this device into the market purely for safety reasons. I hope they can change the FCC rules.


Here is a link to an article on the company: http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/92459394.html

By the way, this is Model A related. We don't want anybody who is distracted by use of a cellphone while driving to T-Bone our Model A and wipe out our families. OK?

[azmodela]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Lurker

put something in the steering wheel to disable cell phones within a two foot diameter.

Yeah, real smart...

You're driving alone and drive off an embankment and into a ditch. You survive, but are pinned in the car. You can reach and get out your cell phone that's in your pocket. You call for help.... but can't get through since your stupid car blocks the signal.

So you sit in your car and hope that someone saw you or notices your skid marks that go off the road.

This is a driver education thing, not an education through regulation issue.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

az, its only a problem if your arms are less than two feet long. Hold the cell phone at arm's length and call 911. Assuming you can get it out of your pocket. And how many kids go through driver education now? All of them. How many use their cellphones? All of them. Sometimes regulation is needed.

And they certainly are not going to worry about keeping an eye out for a Model A.

[J Franklin]

I would like to see the jamming device only be active when the car is running. That would solve the two problems cited. More people just focus on the phone conversation and are endangering those of us that chose to be safe responsible drivers in our Model A Fords.

[MrTube]

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I doubt its possible to make a jamming device work specifically for a distance of 2 feet.
There are way too many factors, it would end up jamming significantly further quite often and not at all other times. The FCC will never allow it.

I do agree cell phones are a problem in a car. I am constantly surrounded by people who can barely drive a car let alone drive one while distracted by a conversation

Which leads me to how big of a joke I feel the hands free law is. People are distracted by the conversation, not from using a hand to hold a phone.

[Keith True]

I am distracted by the conversation too,not holding the phone itself.My former tenant ran over and killed a girl who was talking on a hands-free unit.He was hauling a big machine,heavy and wide,with a state police escort.He saw her at the stop sign,waving her hands and talking but something didn't feel right to him.He had slowed from 50 to 20 when she just drove right out in front of the truck.Tragic,and her third accident while using a cell phone.I used to plow a driveway for a high-tech guy a few years ago.He is an engineer and inventor/designer.The Chinese stole him away and he lives in China now so I guess it is safe to give him away.If you got too loud on a cell phone in a movie theater with him in it your phone would quit.Not if you just answered your phone and talked quietly,but if you yapped and gossiped loud enough to disturb everybody your phone would quit.We had a very lucky young fellow get into an accident a couple of nights ago in Danvers Mass.A 22 year old man was texting and went through the rail and off a bridge.He got out and back to the shore,but as of yesterday they still hadn't found his car.It slid under the ice and may be halfway to Jonesport by now.

[Flathead]

You wouldn't want to jam those drive-by-wire new cars that don't have a mechanical connection between the accelerator and the engine.

[azmodela]

Originally Posted by MrTube

Which leads me to how big of a joke I feel the hands free law is. People are distracted by the conversation, not from using a hand to hold a phone.

You're right, lets jam and/or ban all conversations from the car. This includes conversations among passengers, and singing along with the radio.

[azmodela]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Lurker

az, its only a problem if your arms are less than two feet long. Hold the cell phone at arm's length and call 911.

I agree, fortunately for me my arms are more than two feet long. It's my neck, it won't let me extend my head outside of that two foot radius.

[J Franklin]

Ok lets jam any phone not docked and all text pads, that should solve it.

[LukeDahlinger]

I see it on a daily basis, people who have died from being stupid on the road, be it from cell phone usage, driving like an idiot, etc.

Sometimes the crash is so severe the only tools we can use effectively are a shovel and a few lined boxes to do the removal.

[pprather]

Let's get this thread back on topic. If you want to discuss the dangers of talking on the cell phone while driving, start your own thread.

pdora,
Do you have Android app's that you like or find a convenience for the various jobs you describe in post #1?

I have an interest in how to use the smartphone for things other than talking to someone.

Thanks,
Phil

[48Ratfink]

thinning the herd!

[LukeDahlinger]

Originally Posted by pprather

I have an interest in how to use the smartphone for things other than talking to someone.

Thanks,
Phil

Phil,

A friend of mine uses his Iphone to process credit cards, thought I had seen it all until then. Don't know how the technology works, but according to him it has increased his profits by saving time and giving his customers another option to pay.

[RonC]

The only thing that will work is to heavily fine the driver if seen using the the phone. As soon as they put out a limiting device it will be bypassed.

[MrTube]

Originally Posted by azmodela

You're right, lets jam and/or ban all conversations from the car. This includes conversations among passengers, and singing along with the radio.

Conversations with other passengers can be distracting as well.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

"Let's get this thread back on topic. If you want to discuss the dangers of talking on the cell phone while driving, start your own thread." (pprather)

Actually, pp, the thread isn't really on the Model A topic. It is probably better to just close it down at this point before it gets out of hand. Sorry I replied to the first post.

[MrTube]

I just realized this now that you mentioned it pprather.

I am sorry pdora, I didn't mean to add to the drift of the topic.

I like computers and handheld devices as much as the next guy, I was just responding to other posts without realizing it was completely off-topic.

[MikeK]

pdora- an app for zero-to-sixty time?

In an A that would really be putting the phone's battery life to the test! I know some guys who have been driving their A's 40+ years and have yet to hit 60mph.