Google Glass pronounced unsafe behind the wheel
Author: Brooke Gillespie
The Department of Transport in the U.K. has recently determined that Google Glass is unsafe to use while driving. Officials feel that the glasses will inhibit view through the windshield and distract drivers from keeping their eyes on the road. The penalty for driving with the device is equivalent to driving with a cellphone, for officials say that cellphones are just as dangerous. But others feel that the Google Glass is a significantly better replacement for the dashboard navigation system and even the conventional paper map. Even so, such a law may soon come to pass in Utah, for it already has on the east coast.
Google Glass is the latest device to receive criticism for distracting drivers, standing at the end of the line of other devices that have been outlawed on the road. The emergence of cellphones has caused many accidents, forcing Utah lawmakers to penalize anyone that uses them while driving. Digital navigation systems are also on a tight leash, being restricted to certain places under the windshield to provide minimum distraction. And now laws are being created in the U.K. to prohibit the use of digital glasses on the road, arguing that they are not a sufficient replacement for traditional navigation systems.
But some disagree. Sahas Katta, an app developer, frequently drives with the Google Glass app he has created. The app works like a navigation system, but serves as a better replacement due to not being under a corner of the windshield. The driver is able to look straight ahead on the road, with the navigation system in view, without staring at the center of the dashboard. Katta says that his app has already made him a safer driver, allowing him to navigate labyrinth-like cities without putting himself in danger. He no longer even touches his phone on the road.
The future of Google Glass on the road is unclear. So far, lawmakers have only toyed with the idea of outlawing the use of the spectacles while driving, but some laws are already in the works. The main argument is that even though it is less distracting, it is still distracting nonetheless. One critic said that is acts like a "windshield-level phone," merely bringing the distraction to eye level. Even if the final verdict is unclear, the Google Glass has the potential to be the best replacement for navigation systems and even paper maps in Utah.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/google-glass-pronounced-unsafe-behind-the-wheel-6737333.html
About the AuthorBrooke Gillespie is a writer for Fusion 360 Agency. He writes digital content for several clients, including Diamond Glass.