Local woman explains why she was driving while wearing Google Glass

[bananas]

Source: CBS 8 San Diego

In a possible high-tech first, a Temecula woman helping Google test its prototype eyeglass-style wearable computer system got a traffic ticket in San Diego for sporting the equipment while driving on Interstate 15.

Cecilia Abadie told CBS News8 that she was pulled over near Aero Drive for going 80mph in a 65 zone, and thought she was only going to get a ticket for speeding. But when the CHP officer saw her wearing her Google Glass device, he wasn't happy.

"He was very annoyed and not having a very nice attitude," Abadie said. "And he kept asking me, 'Why, why would you wear a device like that when you are driving?'"

<snip>

"I said but it's not illegal, right? And then he said he it is illegal. I was very shocked. I didn't expect that answer. I had never heard of that before."

The law cited states that it is illegal to "drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver."

<snip>

Read more: http://www.cbs8.com/story/23836671/local-woman-explains-why-she-was-driving-while-wearing-google-glass

[Sheldon Cooper]

1. I'm glad she was ticketed. In most states it's now illegal to text while driving.

I don't think people have any business thinking they should be allowed to web surf while driving.

[dembotoz]

2. from what i understand fighter pilots have some sort of display in their helmets perhaps

they need to be pulled over too

[bananas]

5. The Nissan Infiniti has a heads-up display on the windshield

but these display driving info, not tv

[Lasher]

8. I've got one in my old Pontiac Grand Prix

It's a great thing to have.

[bananas]

9. Just looked at wikipedia - a number of cars have them - even for GPS and night vision

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-up_display#Automobiles

Automobiles

HUD in a BMW E60


HUD in a Pontiac Bonneville showing a speed of 47 mph


The green arrow on the windshield near the top of this picture is a Head Up Display on a 2013 Toyota Prius. It toggles between the GPS navigation instruction arrow and the speedometer. The arrow is animated to appear scrolling forward as the car approaches the turn.

General Motors began using head-up displays in 1988. The first Hud units were equipped on Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Indy Pace Cars and replicas. The optional Hud units were subsequently offered on the Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix before being more widely available. The first color display appeared in 1998 on the Corvette C5. Nissan offered a head-up display in the 240SX from 1989–1994.[23] Toyota, for domestic market only, in 1991 released this system in Toyota Crown Majesta. The displays are becoming increasingly available in production cars, and usually offer speedometer, tachometer, and navigation system displays. Night vision information is also displayed via HUD on certain General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Other manufactures such as Audi, Citroën, Saab, Nissan, and Kia currently offer some form of HUD system. Motorcycle helmet HUDs are also commercially available.[24]

Add-on HUD systems also exist, projecting the display onto a glass combiner mounted on the windshield. These systems have been marketed to police agencies for use with in-vehicle computers.[citation needed]

In 2012 Pioneer Corporation introduced Cyber Navi AR-HUD,[25][26] the first automotive navigation system head-up display (HUD) to project augmented reality (AR) using RGB Laser virtual retinal display (VRD) technology developed by MicroVision, Inc.[27][28]

[Lasher]

11. It was inevitable for this issue to come up.

This is a discussion that needs to be had. I can tell you from personal experience that my heads up display enhances safety since I don't have to glance down at the instrument panel as often.

[frylock]

16. i had one in my GTP as well..

it was pretty cool!

[Lasher]

20. Yep, mine's a GTP too.

240 horses, baby!

[frylock]

21. i loved that car!

blew a few Mustang GTs off the line! my mom wanted to buy it when I bought my Element. I ended up just giving it to her. super clean 1998 with about 80,000 miles. she still drives it!

[madokie]

13. I'd bet that is for their benefit in flying

not to watch a movie or surf the web.

[RC]

15. They are not likely to run into the back end of someone gong 10 MPH slower.

[sendero]

19. They are fighter pilots..

... not some ditzy driver unfamiliar with basic traffic laws.

[onehandle]

3. Google Glass is also specifically illegal to drive with in several states.

Expect a lot of places, especially companies, to ban them. It's already happening and technically, they're not even on the market yet.

[JoePhilly]

4. So does that mean you can't mount your iphone for gps directions?

It has a screen on which I can also watch movies.

[onehandle]

6. Probably. This is why some states have named Google Glass by name in laws.

A lot of vehicles have multiple video screens in view of the the driver, built in.

Legislatures will have to re-write these laws to prevent Google Glass by name, but allowing less distracting fixed GPS and the such.

[JoePhilly]

7. I also wonder if the device has to be "on".

At some point, regular glasses and google glasses will merge.

Maybe by then the self driving cars will have arrived.

[tridim]

10. At some point the HUDs will be implanted and undetectable.

Yea, the law is going to have to change soon. Now would probably be a good time to begin thinking about it.

[Ikonoklast]

12. TIL that Google uses morons to test their products.

But that law as written is overly broad. Any mapping unit with a video display would be illegal, and cops have tried writing tickets to commercial drivers using them.


[link://|

[ProgressiveJarhead]

14. 80 MPH on the 15 at Aero Drive?

I am glad the cops stopped her. I can't blame the cop for being annoyed.

[frylock]

17. that's about normal..

I try to maintain 70 mph, and people blow by me like i'm standing still.

[sir pball]

18. i think that's why he dinged her for the GG.

As others have pointed out upthread, cars have been coming with HUDs for quite a while, splattering all sorts of visuals across the windshield - same end effect as Google Glass. I suspect she raised his ire with the speeding so he threw everything he could at her, I know I've been there. Cited for having my graduation tassel hanging from the mirror, "obstructed forward view", on top of the 58 in a 45.

[seveneyes]

22. It would be good to wear after you get pulled over by a cop

Not cop bashing, but it can't hurt to record your interaction with them just in case of trouble or for use later in court.

[dookers]

23. Having a HUD for a car is no problem

If the driver was receiving non-pertinent info through the google glasses that could clutter her sight or distract her, that would be a problem. However, the HUD inside a pilots helmet is designed to be auspicious, allowing them the have a normal field of vision but still be able to see important info no matter which way their head is turned. If the google glasses was limited to speed information and traffic directions while driving, it might not be a big problem.

[D Gary Grady]

25. Agree: HUD not at all the same thing as Google Glass

Competently designed HUDs are simply an alternative to an instrument panel -- potentially better, in fact, in that you don't have to look away from where you're going to see the information presented in a concise form.

Text messages, web sites, TV shows, and so on are a different matter, and unfortunately we know from experience that a lot of drivers grossly overestimate their ability to drive safely while distracted.

I don't screw with my GPS device or GPS-capable cell phone while driving and pretty much never need to look at it, because it has a British female voice that gives me directions. (Besides, I like the way she mispronounces some street names.) I do look at it before starting out because I need to see where it wants me to start, but after that I just drop it between the seats so it's out of my way. Saves me having to install a holder for the dang thing on the dashboard.

[truthisfreedom]

24. How is a model S Tesla legal? 17" screen surfs net!

Right in front of the driver

[tblue37]

26. It probably isn't--and shouldn't be:

From a description and picture of the car's screen:

"In the picture (click to enlarge), we can see how the screen can be broken into two parts, one for navigation of the internet, the other for real-world navigation (i.e., maps). We see "tabs" for music, phone, energy and camera also available on the top of the screen, and we're confident there are options to adjust all sorts of settings somewhere."

Edited to add image:



http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/this-is-the-brand-new-tesla-model-s-touch-screen/

[marias23]

27. Don't THINK and Drive

My facetious slogan is meant in all seriousness. Driving an automobile is VERY DANGEROUS and all distractions MUST be minimized. As the number of electronic devices increase this rule must become a cardinal rule of driving.