Media: The Economist reviews Car-based Call Screening

"The car that screens your calls" takes us through the new technologies that car manufacturers are introducing in response to clamping down on mobile phone use.

'In-car systems that monitor driver activity, and then screen out unwelcome technological distractions such as phone calls, could improve road safety,' argues the article.

For instance, one system works to 'monitor the driver's activity via the steering wheel, pedals and indicators (turn signals), and assess the complexity of the current manoeuvre using a set of predefined rules. If this complexity exceeds a certain threshold, the system filters out unnecessary distractions, diverting phone calls to voice-mail, or silencing traffic updates.'

What the article never mentions is that driving involves reacting to external situations in the first place. It seems to me dangerous to base these systems on monitoring driver activity in the car. What if it isn't exhibiting the complicated manoeuvres it should: for instance, when a child runs into the road after a ball. Is this a case of everyone falling in love with the technology again?

Associated Link: The Economist: The car that screens your calls

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.