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It would be a massive breakthrough in machine learning to create software that figures out if the phone is being held by a driver or passenger, and unsurprising

It would be a massive breakthrough in machine learning to create software that figures out if the phone is being held by a driver or passenger, and unsurprisingly this article claims they "could" do it without presenting a method. What a load of rubbish.

JoshTriplett 10y ago
Exactly. A related issue: the console in most cars disables many functions while in motion, such as the ability to dial a phone number or change settings. That prevents the passenger from doing so as well.
- raldi 10y ago
  Especially annoying considering how all modern cars have a sensor to know if there's a passenger (so they can play a noise if they're not wearing a seatbelt). The console should unlock when there is.
  - JoshTriplett 10y ago
    You could even go one step further, and lock the console controls if the driver doesn't have both hands on the wheel. That would still allow a passenger to use the console.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- dogma1138 10y ago
  What consoles do that? I never experienced that, even basic cars like a rental Ford Focus give you full control from the steering wheel including making a call.
  - JoshTriplett 10y ago
    You can still do things available from the steering wheel, but Toyota and Honda both lock out specific console controls, such as the dial pad to dial an arbitrary phone number, or most of the settings dialogs.
    - dogma1138 10y ago
      Could be a US thing, tho I can't remember ever trying to dial a number directly. I do remember when some german cars used to come with a dial pad in steering wheel :P
  - stickfigure 10y ago
    My roommate's late-model Subaru Crosstrek. We seriously have to pull off to the side of the road so that I (the passenger) can change the BT pairing so that my phone plays music instead of his. The experience is so incredibly aggravating that it has put me off Subarus completely.
    - x0x0 10y ago
      My Hyundai won't let you pair a phone while moving, but it will let you switch which previously paired phone it is connected to while moving. It's critical for couples that share cars.
  - tga 10y ago
    As an example, now Jeep Cherokees don't let you use/reprogram the navigation while driving. (This is the same car that can be hacked into and driven remotely through the entertainment system. Awesome that they are minding owners' safety)
loeg 10y ago
Yeah. Typical user experience: https://twitter.com/supersat/status/763206342328758273 https://twitter.com/supersat/status/763206342328758273
- taspeotis 10y ago
  It seems GPS inside my office building is a bit haphazard. Just leaving my phone on my desk is enough to trigger it once every few minutes - eventually GPS will bounce you around enough that Pokemon Go thinks you're driving.
jasonkostempski 10y ago
My phone can't even tell if I'm lying on my side and don't want my view to rotate.
- dozzie 10y ago
  What would you lie to your phone about?
kylerpalmer 10y ago
Exactly. This is not something that we currently can do. Pretending that it is currently possible is disingenuous.
jdavis703 10y ago
Well we could borrow from drunk driving regulation. In California, as a condition of getting your drivers license, you agree that a cop can check you for DUI at any time for any reason. My proposal is to extend this slightly differently. Instead you have a UI in the phone that pops up a message saying something like "It appears that you are operating a motor vehicle. Under penalty of perjury [or whatever legalese should go here] you affirm that you are not operating a vehicle," you then either click "OK," or "cancel." Then if you cause a car accident, or there's a "texting while driving" checkpoint that finds you clicked "OK" and there was no one else in your car, you get hit with severe penalties.
- rhinoceraptor 10y ago
  Waze will pop up a scary warning if you try to type while moving, and you have to press the 'passenger' button. I imagine that it will stop precisely zero people from driving while typing.
  - jdavis703 10y ago
    Which is why I suggest putting legal ramifications behind it. For example if you cause a fatal accident while operating a mobile phone after hitting the "passenger" button you should have a mandatory of some time in jail. I have no idea how that lady escaped with no jail time.

JoshTriplett 10y ago

Exactly. A related issue: the console in most cars disables many functions while in motion, such as the ability to dial a phone number or change settings. That prevents the passenger from doing so as well.

raldi 10y ago
Especially annoying considering how all modern cars have a sensor to know if there's a passenger (so they can play a noise if they're not wearing a seatbelt). The console should unlock when there is.
- JoshTriplett 10y ago
  You could even go one step further, and lock the console controls if the driver doesn't have both hands on the wheel. That would still allow a passenger to use the console.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
dogma1138 10y ago
What consoles do that? I never experienced that, even basic cars like a rental Ford Focus give you full control from the steering wheel including making a call.
- JoshTriplett 10y ago
  You can still do things available from the steering wheel, but Toyota and Honda both lock out specific console controls, such as the dial pad to dial an arbitrary phone number, or most of the settings dialogs.
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    Could be a US thing, tho I can't remember ever trying to dial a number directly. I do remember when some german cars used to come with a dial pad in steering wheel :P
- stickfigure 10y ago
  My roommate's late-model Subaru Crosstrek. We seriously have to pull off to the side of the road so that I (the passenger) can change the BT pairing so that my phone plays music instead of his. The experience is so incredibly aggravating that it has put me off Subarus completely.
  - x0x0 10y ago
    My Hyundai won't let you pair a phone while moving, but it will let you switch which previously paired phone it is connected to while moving. It's critical for couples that share cars.
- tga 10y ago
  As an example, now Jeep Cherokees don't let you use/reprogram the navigation while driving. (This is the same car that can be hacked into and driven remotely through the entertainment system. Awesome that they are minding owners' safety)

loeg 10y ago

Yeah. Typical user experience: https://twitter.com/supersat/status/763206342328758273 https://twitter.com/supersat/status/763206342328758273

taspeotis 10y ago
It seems GPS inside my office building is a bit haphazard. Just leaving my phone on my desk is enough to trigger it once every few minutes - eventually GPS will bounce you around enough that Pokemon Go thinks you're driving.

jasonkostempski 10y ago

My phone can't even tell if I'm lying on my side and don't want my view to rotate.

dozzie 10y ago
What would you lie to your phone about?

kylerpalmer 10y ago

Exactly. This is not something that we currently can do. Pretending that it is currently possible is disingenuous.

jdavis703 10y ago

Well we could borrow from drunk driving regulation. In California, as a condition of getting your drivers license, you agree that a cop can check you for DUI at any time for any reason. My proposal is to extend this slightly differently. Instead you have a UI in the phone that pops up a message saying something like "It appears that you are operating a motor vehicle. Under penalty of perjury [or whatever legalese should go here] you affirm that you are not operating a vehicle," you then either click "OK," or "cancel." Then if you cause a car accident, or there's a "texting while driving" checkpoint that finds you clicked "OK" and there was no one else in your car, you get hit with severe penalties.

rhinoceraptor 10y ago
Waze will pop up a scary warning if you try to type while moving, and you have to press the 'passenger' button. I imagine that it will stop precisely zero people from driving while typing.
- jdavis703 10y ago
  Which is why I suggest putting legal ramifications behind it. For example if you cause a fatal accident while operating a mobile phone after hitting the "passenger" button you should have a mandatory of some time in jail. I have no idea how that lady escaped with no jail time.