New Samsung app could stop your phone distracting you while driving

[midian182]

It seems that no matter how often we’re reminded of the dangers, some people are still using their phones while driving. Despite the practice being illegal in many countries, the urge to reply to messages can often see drivers take their hands off the wheel and stop paying attention to the road, which can lead to lethal consequences.

A survey commissioned by Samsung Netherlands found that social pressure is one of the reasons why drivers feel the need to respond to messages instantly, with a third of Dutch motorists admitting to occasionally using their phone while controlling a car.

To try and combat the problem, Samsung has developed a new app called In-Traffic Reply that can reply to messages without distractions.

It works by using a smartphone’s sensors, such as the GPS, to determine whether or not a person is driving. If the app detects you’re traveling at a speed that suggests you’re in a vehicle or on a bike, it’ll automatically switch on.

Once activated, the app will respond to incoming calls and texts with an automated reply, the default message being: “I’m driving, so I cannot answer at the moment.” Users can set their own responses and even add emoji or animated GIFs.

As noted by Android Authority, Samsung isn’t exactly breaking new ground here. Apps such as SMS Auto Reply have been doing it for years, and even Google’s Android Auto has a similar feature. But if it helps reduce the number of traffic-related deaths, then In-Traffic Reply can only be a good thing.

The app is currently in beta and only available to Dutch users right now. The full version will be available on the Play Store in mid-May. For those who can’t wait, an .apk file can be downloaded from the SamMobile site.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/69116-new-samsung-app-could-stop-phone-distracting-you.html

 

[Nobina]

Couldn't you do this without an app? There's a quick message option in my phone that does this.

 

[Uncle Al]

It's certainly a great start ..... but will be even better once it is built into the OS as a mandatory feature. Of course, there will need to be some accommodations for passengers that are not driving ......

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

So how does it know the difference between a driver and a passenger? ...this will piss a lot of people off who are just passengers.

On another topic, who the hell likes these curved edges on their phone? I've seen a few and I hate it. It is ugly and I don't see any practical reason to have it. Reminds me of the old CRT monitors that had convex screens. Was really irritating.

 

[psycros]

If its like other Samsung bloatware it will prevent distracted driving by distracting you while you're driving.

 

[andrewdoyle88]

Nissan sends an automatic reply of "I'm driving" when a phone is connected to the cars Bluetooth. It does get a little annoying but can put your mind at ease knowing the person isn't ignoring you.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

If its like other Samsung bloatware it will prevent distracted driving by distracting you while you're driving.

All phones have manufacturer specific bloatware on them. Samsung is no better or worse than others. It's all the carrier crapware that's the real problem. Vodafone, or if in North America, Verizon, are the absolute worst offenders.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

So how does it know the difference between a driver and a passenger? ...this will piss a lot of people off who are just passengers.

On another topic, who the hell likes these curved edges on their phone? I've seen a few and I hate it. It is ugly and I don't see any practical reason to have it. Reminds me of the old CRT monitors that had convex screens. Was really irritating.

So I safely assume you're not one of the millions who demand form over function forcing manufacturers into trying out quirky designs. It's either one or the other. Having both is always going to be a serious compromise between the two.

 

[p51d007]

Oh don't worry....governments around the world are probably coming up with new rules to make something like this MANDATORY on each and every phone...for our own good ya know.

 

[p51d007]

Oh don't worry....governments around the world are probably coming up with new rules to make something like this MANDATORY on each and every phone...for our own good ya know.

Oh! One more thing...EXEMPTING themselves of course.

 

[Makson]

An app on a 'mobile desktop' to stop a person using the 'phone while driving, utterly ridiculous. I always thought that in the brain of the nut holding the steering wheel there was a thought implanted when obtaining a licence to drive which silently said, "It is illegal and dangerous to drive a vehicle when using a portable 'phone."
It is obvious that millions of people don't have the intelligence to understand the meaning while driving, although they would easily understand when laying severely injured in the tangled wreck of a vehicle.

 

[Emexrulsier]

Oh don't worry....governments around the world are probably coming up with new rules to make something like this MANDATORY on each and every phone...for our own good ya know.

Our country just makes it 100% illegal to touch your mobile phone whilst driving/the engine is running. This includes using it as a GPS (you still can just never touch it) or even as absurd as using the phone to pay for you mcdonalds with something like ipay. The fine is 200 quid and 6 points on your license (12 points and you loose you license, new drivers auto loose their license within the first 2 years of driving).

So technically on a cold day, you start the engine to demist the car, then take out your phone to program in your destination into google maps, if caught you could be charged.

 

[Makson]

Dear Techspot Administrators,
I wish to ask you who made a separate, unwritten rule in the English language learning school to dictate to people using handwriting or typewriting that capitalising a word was known as shouting.
My education in the correct use of the English language in ENGLAND was that in order to emphasise a word it could be capitalised to bring in to the attention of the reader.
It is bad enough that American people misspell many English words, and incorrectly call it American English when there is no such thing, the English language is only the English language.
It is a strange world when many American actors and actresses in movies, people in forums and people who write articles seem compelled to speak or write the F--- word without a majority of complaints but do not CAPITALISE a word as it is breaking an unknown strange law brought into being by stranger people who lack an understanding of the correct English language, therefore HDMI, RAM, ROM, CPU, etc; should be written hdmi, ram, rom, cpu because the rules can be changed where shouting isn't shouting because capital letters are used which is NOT shouting, this proves how ridiculous is the shouting rule.

 

[mailpup]

It is not an unwritten rule. Please review TechSpot's Community & Posting Guidelines here: https://www.techspot.com/terms.html

 

[Emexrulsier]

True all caps is classed as shouting, but then HDMI, RAM, ROM and CPU , etc are not words as such they are abbreviations and in the English language abbreviations should be defined as capitals even if the individual words are not.
And yeah it's not good when you Americans bastardise the English language, but you know what, who cares get over it and enjoy the cultural differences!

 

[mailpup]

True all caps is classed as shouting, but then HDMI, RAM, ROM and CPU , etc are not words as such they are abbreviations and in the English language abbreviations should be defined as capitals even if the individual words are not.
And yeah it's not good when you Americans bastardise the English language, but you know what, who cares get over it and enjoy the cultural differences!

I don't count those types of words as shouting. Someone just made an assumption.