iZUP — Using Phone GPS to Stop Cell Phone Use While Driving
Using a cell phone while driving is a bad thing. We’ve seen the reports that doing so impairs a driver as much or even more than being intoxicated. With smartphones playing an even bigger role in communications currently than in the past, the problem will grow unless technology is leveraged to make it safer. Illume Software has just announced a product that is intended to prevent the use of cell phones while driving.
The new program, iZUP, uses the GPS that is integrated in many phones, and when the phone indicates the owner is driving a car (over 10 mph) it prevents the use of the phone. The iZUP program automatically holds email and text messages, and sends calls to voice mail until the GPS indicates the vehicle is stopped. The intent is to turn the phone into a brick while the car is moving. The program should appear this fall.
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But what if you are just riding as a passenger?
Don’t forget buses or trains =P
I agree. What about passengers in the car? Or if you are using public transportation such as a bus, subway system, or train?
What if your kidnapped and thrown in the trunk, but have your cell phone?
iZUP = You’re screwed
I’ll stick to my JVC BT head unit that pairs with my phone every time I turn the ignition. Better, safer, automatic and no intervention required. When I get a call, my audio mutes and the phone auto-answers. No way I’m putting my phone, or my passengers phones, out of service.
If it can be disabled when I am a passenger or locked on with a password for the kids, then it may have some use. I doubt I would pay for it now.
I would have the program simply make outgoing calls harder to make nearly impossible with confirmations after confirmations.
When phone gps detects speed from moving vehicle people must type in series of numbers “shown in box” bfore allowing txting and calls can be made . This would disable driver but passengers can make calls after confirming this able to pass and still alive.:-)
Really? No it would just make people more distracted if they had to put in more confirmations. I mean people text and thats enough distraction. Confirmations are not gonna stop anyone from using a phone.
I assume this is meant to be a tool for you to choose to disable the phone (for the reasons outlined by others above).
For some weird reason my phone does exactly the same thing when I drive. I ignore it, and inbound calls go to voice mail. No add-on software needed.
They could have set the speed to 15 MPH and then it wouldn’t interfere with my Segway. :-)
If they used GPS to silence cellphones in movie theaters I’d buy it for lots of people.
What if you’re riding on a train, it breaks down so you hop on a subway, someone drives up alongside you and offers you a lift then when they stop for petrol you’re kidnapped and thrown into the back of another car. You’re then driven to a quay where, as the car is stil driving along, you’re thrown into a speedboat which zooms off across the lake. Will you be without the use of your phone all this time?
So now my traffic-reporting system (http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/mobile/smartnav-mobile.php) would not work as it relies on GPRS to keep udated.
Neat idea, but flawed ….
iZUP is a total waste of money!!… what a screwup of a software..pheww!!..
exasperatingly bungled…
this software is such a sham!!!…
check out drivesafly instead, makes more sense for users like me who are on the move non-stop and can’t do without the use of their mobile phones.