Barence writes "Satnav firm Mio is launching a device with an integrated TV tuner. The Mio Spirit range includes a digital television tuner that is intended to be used 'during breaks in the journey or at their final destination.' However, safety campaigners fear there's little to stop the television being used at the wheel. When the system is first turned on a warning message is displayed, telling the user not to watch television while driving. If this is ignored, a secondary warning message kicks in if the GPS chip detects the vehicle is moving at more than 5mph. But that's it!"
I always thought that warning messages were more likely to get you killed in the 0.05s you spend pressing "ok" when you could have done the one thing you wanted to do.
I always thought that warning messages were more likely to get you killed in the 0.05s you spend pressing "ok" when you could have done the one thing you wanted to do.
They'd be more effective to only let you use the TV in "radio mode", e.g. no video to distract you from the road.
Indeed. My in-dash navigation system often pops up warnings telling me that the map information hasn't been verified for the area that I'm in... covering up the map in doing so.. requiring me to press OK on the touch screen or wait 30 seconds.. which is about 10x longer than it needs to be there.
Even the current GPS units/DVD players can easily be defeated. In most cases, all you need to do is ground one of the pins in the connector, and it always thinks you are parked. My brother has been playing Family Guy DVDs in his in-dash unit for years. The SAME Family Guy DVD.
Even the current GPS units/DVD players can easily be defeated. In most cases, all you need to do is ground one of the pins in the connector, and it always thinks you are parked.
I've heard some people who want a GPS/DVD player with the GPS functions disabled take the even more nefarious route of just buying a DVD player:-)
But should it really be up to the device to monitor this? Can't I use my navigator to let the kids watch TV in the back seat if I don't need it for navigating?
A nav system integrated into the front console would be another story though...
Exactly what I was thinking - there's a use case where you know your route but only want to carry one device and so entertain the other passengers by using it as the TV rather than using the SatNav (which you may need later) as a navigation device.
Yeah, people watching TV while driving is a problem, but there are far more prevalent problems that'll cause just as many accidents: people doing 100Mph+ on Motorways with warnings of queuing ahead, people not indicating, people on mobile phones, etc.
Sadly, they are not on the road all on their own. And as much as I won't miss them if they drive into a ravine while watching TV, I'm a bit less happy if they're driving in the oncoming lane on the same road I'm driving (or more likely, in my lane while they are fiddling with the controls).
(Kind of like I'm fine with them being superuser on their own system, but what do you do when they need to have modify rights to a network drive which also contains my work)
..there is such a thing as personal responsibility and we don't need a nanny to babysit us all the time.
Life is like Unix and you are the superuser. With that comes the power to 'rm -rf' the system.. intentionally or not.
--iamnotayam
Nobody really cares if the driver kills himself while being terminally stupid. The problem is that they tend to take other people with them, people who did not have any part in their idiot choices. Your right to watch TV while driving does not override other people's right to live.
..there is such a thing as personal responsibility
Your personal responsibility should be limited to your net worth. Otherwise, it's not your personal responsibility, but someone elses (whoever has to eat the difference between what you and your insurance are able to pay and the actual damage you caused).
Get shitty drivers and give them mobile phones to talk on so they become even shittier drivers. Now get those bastards to watch TV while talking and texting on their mobile phones and we'll have the shittiest drivers on the road. Hopefully, these bastards will kill themselves without killing others, making the road safer for everyone else.
Because if only we could prevent this one particular stupid thing people can do while driving we will eliminate all driving-related injuries and deaths.
Seriously, there is an endless supply of stupid, distracting things people can do while driving, with out without GPS, a cell phone, TV, children, or any of the other things they might have in their car. If someone is stupid enough to be distracted by TV while they're driving they'll likely be able to find something similarly stupid to do even if you ban every bit of technology you can name from the dashboard. Like DRM, the only thing you'll accomplish by adding silly technologically restrictions like this is annoyance for people who have legitimate uses.
Absolutely. I used to have a 45-minute commute to work when I lived in New Jersey and I honestly can't remember the number of times that I was almost run into by someone in a 3-ton SUV that was talking or texting instead of driving.
Japanese taxi drivers frequently have the TV playing on their nav units while driving, but they are among the safest drivers I've ever ridden with. I think two way communication is far more taxing to a driver's attention than a receive-only medium.
Because if only we could prevent this one particular stupid thing people can do while driving we will eliminate all driving-related injuries and deaths.
Every little bit helps.
But I can't help wondering why the multi-tasking geek always trots out this excuse for inaction.
It's a patently false dilemma.
We can do other things while we do this one thing.
Chances are that eventually some of them will fight, but the likelihood of death (from fights) is minimal. Same 10 people, plus a sword, the chances of fights, injury and death, are increased. Same 10 people, a sword and a gun, the chances of fights, injuries and death are increased.
However, you could also argue that with a sword and a gun, the remaining people would be better able to prepare and eat the dead, thus increasing their chances of survival. However, tha
TV should not work while the satnav moves faster than, say, 5 km/h!`
Or, if you switch TV on, it must stay still otherwise it will turn off. It's simple, but will never be implemented!
Ya, that's exactly what Dodge's in-car navigation system does. And it is annoying as hell, as I'm quite capable of driving and not getting distracted by the tv while the passengers watch it.
When the system is first turned on a warning message is displayed, telling the user not to watch television while driving. If this is ignored, a secondary warning message kicks in if the GPS chip detects the vehicle is moving at more than 5mph. But that's it!"
I thought the whole point of "in car entertainment systems" was for the passengers, hence why you have displays in the back of the front seats and so on. For the kids to watch DVDs during long drives or whatever. To me that sounds much more useful than a system that only plays when stationary, because it's only occasionally that one sits in a stationary car for the duration of a TV episode.
Plenty of systems also provide a screen for the front seat passenger.
Playing videos while the car is in motion is a req
Is possible in my brothers brand new 2009 ( some asian car model). [Maybe If I remember I will find out and post it later.] It doesn't matter, I don't know the brand of the navigation system as well. What is important is that he can watch DVD's while driving. The only safety feature is that the parking brake has to be engagded, but only one click and he can watch DVD's while driving. That is nothing. He could drving across europe without problems with the hand brake engaged to the first ratchet.
More distractions for drivers will eventually mean more cyclists being killed on the road. Looking on the bright side, this could accelerate the eventual transition towards having computers assume control of vehicles on the streets.
"... safety campaigners fear there's little to stop the television being used at the wheel."
When the original version of The Andromeda Strain aired on TV circa 1971, I packed a 12" B&W Zenith portable with a 12 V DC car cigarette lighter adapter into a friend's car and we set out watching it. He made it 2 blocks before hitting a curb. I tried and made it 1 block before doing the same. We then parked and watched the rest.
So they're right to be alarmed. They're just several decades late. But then, we knew it was stupid to try it. I suspect far more people these days wouldn't realize that unless the TV told them, and then many would still ignore it. I'd wish for natural selection to take its course with them, except it might do so head on with someone not deserving of the same fate.
Isn't one of the drawbacks of an ATSC digital signal that it's difficult to maintain a lock on it while you're in motion? They're advertising it as something to do once you arrive in your destination, so its not like people haven't been warned about the realities of the situation
Yes. I'm in South Korea too and it's something I see every day, in nearly every taxi I get in. Its extremely common to see someone tune the GPS screen into digital television stations while driving. The law has little affect on it.
It makes sense after you see a horrible accident on the high way, look into one of the vehicles in the collision and see their LCD screen displaying The Cooking Channel or something.
It is amazing how many drivers here in Japan (specifically near Toyota City, but I assume elsewhere in this country) are watching TV while driving. Add in texting on a cell phone, not wearing seat belts and things get more dangerous.
First post? (Score:2)
Re:First post? (Score:5, Interesting)
I always thought that warning messages were more likely to get you killed in the 0.05s you spend pressing "ok" when you could have done the one thing you wanted to do.
They'd be more effective to only let you use the TV in "radio mode", e.g. no video to distract you from the road.
Parent
Re:First post? (Score:5, Informative)
I've been using TV-enabled satnavs here in Japan for many years. The law forces dealers to make the TV switch off when the car is moving.
However most 3rd party fitters will bypass this restriction, and it's fairly common to see asshats driving round with the TV fully on.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed. My in-dash navigation system often pops up warnings telling me that the map information hasn't been verified for the area that I'm in... covering up the map in doing so.. requiring me to press OK on the touch screen or wait 30 seconds.. which is about 10x longer than it needs to be there.
Re: (Score:2)
Why don't they use an audio message instead? That's not only safer, but also sounds a lot more effective as a warning.
Re:First post? (Score:4, Insightful)
My guess would be because they're fucking morons.
Parent
Re:First post? (Score:5, Funny)
Those poor morons...
Parent
Re:First post? (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe they should do it as a HUD system, prjecting on the windscreen of the car.
And then, when they feel the need to warn you, your entire windscreen goes opaque with a giant warning message.
Parent
Re:First post? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Speed Interlock Override (Score:4, Funny)
Even the current GPS units/DVD players can easily be defeated. In most cases, all you need to do is ground one of the pins in the connector, and it always thinks you are parked. My brother has been playing Family Guy DVDs in his in-dash unit for years. The SAME Family Guy DVD.
Brett
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Even the current GPS units/DVD players can easily be defeated. In most cases, all you need to do is ground one of the pins in the connector, and it always thinks you are parked.
I've heard some people who want a GPS/DVD player with the GPS functions disabled take the even more nefarious route of just buying a DVD player :-)
TV while drivin is Darwin Award worthy... (Score:2)
But should it really be up to the device to monitor this? Can't I use my navigator to let the kids watch TV in the back seat if I don't need it for navigating?
A nav system integrated into the front console would be another story though...
Re:TV while drivin is Darwin Award worthy... (Score:5, Insightful)
Exactly what I was thinking - there's a use case where you know your route but only want to carry one device and so entertain the other passengers by using it as the TV rather than using the SatNav (which you may need later) as a navigation device.
Yeah, people watching TV while driving is a problem, but there are far more prevalent problems that'll cause just as many accidents: people doing 100Mph+ on Motorways with warnings of queuing ahead, people not indicating, people on mobile phones, etc.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Whatever happened to sitting in the back shutting the fuck up and feeling miserable? I miss those days.
That's fine.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Life is like Unix and you are the superuser. With that comes the power to 'rm -rf' the system.. intentionally or not.
--iamnotayam
Re:That's fine.. (Score:5, Funny)
Thats a first, a computer analogy to describe a car.
Parent
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:That's fine.. (Score:5, Informative)
Sadly, they are not on the road all on their own. And as much as I won't miss them if they drive into a ravine while watching TV, I'm a bit less happy if they're driving in the oncoming lane on the same road I'm driving (or more likely, in my lane while they are fiddling with the controls).
(Kind of like I'm fine with them being superuser on their own system, but what do you do when they need to have modify rights to a network drive which also contains my work)
Parent
Re:That's fine.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Life is like Unix and you are the superuser. With that comes the power to 'rm -rf' the system.. intentionally or not.
--iamnotayam
Nobody really cares if the driver kills himself while being terminally stupid. The problem is that they tend to take other people with them, people who did not have any part in their idiot choices. Your right to watch TV while driving does not override other people's right to live.
Parent
Re:That's fine.. (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:That's fine.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Some people should not be allowed to have root access sometimes.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Your personal responsibility should be limited to your net worth. Otherwise, it's not your personal responsibility, but someone elses (whoever has to eat the difference between what you and your insurance are able to pay and the actual damage you caused).
Nice! (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh well, back to reality.
Re: (Score:2)
Hopefully, these bastards will kill themselves without killing others, making the road safer for everyone else.
Would be nice, but what if they're driving SUVs? Then they kill others with little harm to themselves.
Re: (Score:2)
Hopefully, these bastards will kill themselves without killing others, making the road safer for everyone else.
Would be nice, but what if they're driving SUVs? Then they kill others with little harm to themselves.
Summary executions on the side of the road. It is the only way to be sure...
Re:Nice! (Score:4, Funny)
Now, now, be reasonable. It's not like they copied a CD or something, all they did was endangering the lives of other people.
Parent
Because if only.. (Score:4, Informative)
Because if only we could prevent this one particular stupid thing people can do while driving we will eliminate all driving-related injuries and deaths.
Seriously, there is an endless supply of stupid, distracting things people can do while driving, with out without GPS, a cell phone, TV, children, or any of the other things they might have in their car. If someone is stupid enough to be distracted by TV while they're driving they'll likely be able to find something similarly stupid to do even if you ban every bit of technology you can name from the dashboard. Like DRM, the only thing you'll accomplish by adding silly technologically restrictions like this is annoyance for people who have legitimate uses.
Re:Because if only.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Japanese taxi drivers frequently have the TV playing on their nav units while driving, but they are among the safest drivers I've ever ridden with. I think two way communication is far more taxing to a driver's attention than a receive-only medium.
Parent
My World and Welcome to It (Score:3, Insightful)
Because if only we could prevent this one particular stupid thing people can do while driving we will eliminate all driving-related injuries and deaths.
Every little bit helps.
But I can't help wondering why the multi-tasking geek always trots out this excuse for inaction.
It's a patently false dilemma.
We can do other things while we do this one thing.
Synergy (Score:2)
Plus they'll probably[1] be more distracting in combination than the sum of their individual effects.
[1] no studies that I'm aware of
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed...
You have 10 people locked in a room:
Chances are that eventually some of them will fight, but the likelihood of death (from fights) is minimal.
Same 10 people, plus a sword, the chances of fights, injury and death, are increased.
Same 10 people, a sword and a gun, the chances of fights, injuries and death are increased.
However, you could also argue that with a sword and a gun, the remaining people would be better able to prepare and eat the dead, thus increasing their chances of survival. However, tha
I never watch TV while driving ... (Score:2, Funny)
Simple safety solution (Score:2)
Or, if you switch TV on, it must stay still otherwise it will turn off.
It's simple, but will never be implemented!
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Ya, that's exactly what Dodge's in-car navigation system does. And it is annoying as hell, as I'm quite capable of driving and not getting distracted by the tv while the passengers watch it.
Re: (Score:2)
What if you know the way, and your kids want to watch TV while you're driving?
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Simple safety solution (Score:4, Interesting)
What about ferries? A hour long ferry ride would be the perfect use for a TV, but the satnav shuts itself down when the ferry leaves the port.
Parent
THIRD WARNING (Score:2)
Puhleez (Score:4, Funny)
safety campaigners fear there's little to stop the television being used at the wheel
Silly safety campaigners... don't they know we're too busy texting on our mobile phones while driving to watch TV?
What use is a car entertainment system otherwise? (Score:2)
When the system is first turned on a warning message is displayed, telling the user not to watch television while driving. If this is ignored, a secondary warning message kicks in if the GPS chip detects the vehicle is moving at more than 5mph. But that's it!"
I thought the whole point of "in car entertainment systems" was for the passengers, hence why you have displays in the back of the front seats and so on. For the kids to watch DVDs during long drives or whatever. To me that sounds much more useful than a system that only plays when stationary, because it's only occasionally that one sits in a stationary car for the duration of a TV episode.
Plenty of systems also provide a screen for the front seat passenger.
Playing videos while the car is in motion is a req
Watching DVD's (Score:2)
Great (Score:2, Insightful)
It's called... (Score:5, Insightful)
wreckless driving, and it shouldn't be tolerated. Shouldn't anyone watching TV while driving lose their license?
Re:It's called... (Score:5, Funny)
Umm... it's called *reckless* driving!
Wreckless driving is desirable.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
The only thing that's frightening about stupid cyclists is the possible legal fallout, if you're not too squeamish about the possible bloody mess.
Watch out for the ones carrying landmines. Running them over can spoil your whole day...
And A Dollar Short (Score:4, Insightful)
"... safety campaigners fear there's little to stop the television being used at the wheel."
When the original version of The Andromeda Strain aired on TV circa 1971, I packed a 12" B&W Zenith portable with a 12 V DC car cigarette lighter adapter into a friend's car and we set out watching it. He made it 2 blocks before hitting a curb. I tried and made it 1 block before doing the same. We then parked and watched the rest.
So they're right to be alarmed. They're just several decades late. But then, we knew it was stupid to try it. I suspect far more people these days wouldn't realize that unless the TV told them, and then many would still ignore it. I'd wish for natural selection to take its course with them, except it might do so head on with someone not deserving of the same fate.
ATSC (Score:4, Insightful)
Isn't one of the drawbacks of an ATSC digital signal that it's difficult to maintain a lock on it while you're in motion? They're advertising it as something to do once you arrive in your destination, so its not like people haven't been warned about the realities of the situation
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
It makes sense after you see a horrible accident on the high way, look into one of the vehicles in the collision and see their LCD screen displaying The Cooking Channel or something.
Japan Too (Score:3, Informative)
It is amazing how many drivers here in Japan (specifically near Toyota City, but I assume elsewhere in this country) are watching TV while driving. Add in texting on a cell phone, not wearing seat belts and things get more dangerous.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
We have had those units in Europe for ages, and there was not a single problem. I am not sure if this is not an American problem alone...