Category Archives: Technology

Texting while driving? How about reading Electronic Billboards?

Reading through the new Illinois law set to take effect next year, I got to wondering, will it be against the law to read electronic billboards?, a car wreck attorney could be useful if you have any problems with the law in regards this matter.

The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. Learn more via localaccidentreports.

“Electronic communication device” means an electronic device, including but not limited to a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, or a portable or mobile computer while being used for the purpose of composing, reading, or sending an electronic message, but does not include a global positioning system or navigation system or a device that is
physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle.

“Electronic message” means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is designed or intended to be transmitted between physical devices. “Electronic message” includes, but is not limited to electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an Internet site.

(b) A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message.

An electronic billboard (EBB) is an “electronic device” by the statute’s definition, and an “electronic message” is certainly being transmitted from the advertising agency to the EBB. Such devices are used by persons operating motor vehicles on roadways to read electronic messages. Hmmm…. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’d take a chance next year. Keep those eyes on the road.

Admittedly, I’m saying this partially tongue-in-cheek. But on the other hand, we really should follow the logic on this one. Why is texting while driving bad? Because it causes “distracted driving.” And distracted driving is bad because it takes a person’s attention off the road, which is self-evidently dangerous when you’re propelling a 4,000 pound piece of machinery down a ribbon of road up to 65 miles per hour.

In fact, the New York Times reported just a couple weeks ago that a new Virginia Tech study “found that when the drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.” I found this paragraph particularly interesting:

In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices — enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.

Now, think about EBBs. What is their purpose? As a Federal Highway Administration report put it, “Commercial EBBs are designed to ‘catch the eye’ of drivers.” In other words, their purpose is to distract drivers from focusing on the road and instead focus on the EBB for some period of time. The report states, “Their presence may distract drivers from concentrating on the driving task and the visual surrounds.” If distracted driving is dangerous (which is the basis for the no-texting-while-driving law, mentioned at https://www.hornsbywatson.com/injury-law-blog/night-driving-accidents-in-alabama), these billboards put the motoring public at risk by design. Those who got injured in truck accidents may seek truck accident law services to help them fight for their rights and get the compensation they deserve. A wrongful death lawyer, on the other hand, can help whose lost a loved one in a fatal road accident.

A 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report found that “glances totaling more than 2 seconds for any purpose increase near-crash/crash risk by at least two times that of normal, baseline driving.” Presumably, the longer a driver is distracted, the higher the risk. So how many seconds does a person spend looking at an electronic billboard?

Critics point out that the brightness of EBBs add to their distraction, because the human eye is naturally drawn to the brightest object in its field of vision. This and the constant changing of images makes EBBs more distracting than regular billboards. More research is being done, and we’ll no doubt see calls for curbing these devices in the future.

The funny thing is, outlawing EBBs would actually do something to reduce driver distractions, whereas banning texting while driving will not. Why? Because the texting ban is completely unenforceable. For instance, it doesn’t apply to global positioning systems, so if you have your trusty iPhone with a texting app and a GPS app, how is a policeman supposed to prove you were texting and not just getting directions? He would have no way of knowing. The only time fines will be meted out for this new crime is after an accident has already occurred and transmission records get subpoenaed, which is to say, it won’t actually prevent an accident from happening. navigate here to find a lawyer that will stand by your side and defend your rights.
So what’s the point of passing this legislation? Why, because it feels good! Don’t you feel better knowing it’s illegal? Our legislators sure do. And they hope you’ll feel so good about it you’ll forget that they weren’t able to pass a balanced budget or do any number of other things they were supposed to do down in Springfield.

Digital TV coverage may be more limited than thought

Rabbit Ears AntennaFor those who still use rabbit ears to get their TV signals, here’s a worrisome press release from the market-research firm Centris. Basically, it says that to really get a good signal, you need a rooftop antenna and be within 35 miles of the transmitter. If you’re farther away, or if you’re using rabbit ears, you may be left in the dark after the digital conversion.

I heard about it first through Broadcast Engineering. You can read their synopsis here.

NEW YORK, New York (February 12, 2008) – New proprietary research released today by Centris (www.centris.com), a leading market research firm, illuminates a major discrepancy in digital TV broadcast coverage that is critical to the upcoming DTV transition on February 17, 2009. The study, of U.S. television households reveals that there are serious “gaps” in digital TV signal coverage across the country. Coverage that millions of households will rely upon once analog signals are switched off exactly one year from now. That’s why I recommend looking in to the best iptv provider that way you can watch your favorite shows and movies without interuption. “We predict that digital TV signal coverage will be more limited than currently anticipated. An issue that, until now, has been completely overlooked by the FCC and governing bodies, and could have serious – and costly – implications for millions of consumers” says David Klein, Executive Vice President of Centris.

There are more than 40 million households currently receiving over-the-air analog signals in the U.S., according to Centris. These reflect a combined total of as many as 117 million sets that are unconnected from cable or satellite video networks – a figure that far exceeds any previous projections on the number of people who will be affected by the national switch from analog to digital broadcasting. With less than one year – and counting – until the DTV transition takes places, the potential gaps in digital coverage present a huge problem for the TV industry, and an equally large opportunity for cable, satellite and telecom video service providers as well as for manufacturers and distributors of “smart” television antennas. Similar problems have emerged in the digital transition taking place in the UK, where it is recognized that problems with digital coverage will require the use of more sophisticated antennas.

THE GLITCH: EXPLAINED

Over-the-air (OTA) consumers are currently being educated on three available options. Two of the three options – acquiring new digital TV sets and purchasing government subsidized digital-analog converter boxes – are entirely dependent upon receiving digital TV signals through an antenna. Without adequate broadcast signal coverage or a sufficiently sensitive roof-top antenna, Centris forecasts, these options will simply not work. For consumers living in problem areas where broadcast gaps exist, installing a sophisticated roof-top antenna is a possible option but signing up for a cable, satellite or telecom video provider is the only guarantee that their TV sets will continue to work. This is not what the Federal Government claims.

“Consumers are being urged to purchase equipment that may or may not work when they bring it home – never before has such an important transition been conducted on a trial and error basis. The reality is, if consumers want guaranteed ‘free’ TV, they will have to pay for it,” says Klein.

DISCOVERING THE GAPS

Centris examined several large TV markets and exercised models of coverage to determine how many broadcast stations could be received in zip codes within 5 mile intervals of the TV towers in a 60-75 mile radius corresponding to the FCC-identified service contours. Alarmingly, the results showed that there was little continuous coverage beyond 35 miles. The explanation lies in the fact that the antennaweb model used in the Centris study takes into account outdoor receiving antenna sensitivity and multipath interference. Certain households – for example: those that are not elevated; are surrounded by trees; or have set-top antennas instead of roof-top antennas; among other factors – are at higher risk of having limited or no signal coverage. Centris surveys reveal that 75% or more of over-the-air households have only set-top antennas.

“These are very real factors, that have until now not been accounted for. The effect will have extensive ramifications, not only among consumers, but also electronics retailers and manufacturers who can expect an influx of costly returns when it is realized that the converter boxes and new digital TV’s don’t work,” says Barry Goodstadt, Senior Vice President of Centris. “In addition, with so many sets potentially at risk of going dark, network, local and public television, advertisers and agencies will likely be adversely affected.”

THE COUNTDOWN

The hidden gaps in digital TV coverage will undoubtedly magnify existing levels of confusion in the marketplace. According to Centris November, 2007 survey results, 45% had no idea that the DTV transition was taking place; and among those who are aware of the transition, only 56% could correctly state when the analog transmission is scheduled to stop. With the one year-out countdown upon us, it is critical that the gaps in digital coverage are included in national dialogue on the DTV transition.

Wi-Fi proponents beware

In the Chicago Tribune today (free registration required):

About 90 percent of the free wireless broadband connections available at O’Hare International Airport are not true Wi-Fi hotspots and some could be traps laid by fraudsters, a computer security firm asserts.

Apparently, what some hackers do is go to the airport, log onto either a free or fee-based broadband connection with their laptop. “The hacker laptop then broadcasts the wireless signal as free Wi-Fi, hoping to lure travelers as they log online to read their e-mail, check their bank balances or otherwise catch up with work.”

If your laptop is set to automatically search for and connect to Wi-Fi, just turning on your computer could allow hackers could steal your info without you even knowing it. I wonder if anyone would try that here in Peoria once muni Wi-Fi is set up….

DSL is lightning-quick

DSLGreat Scott! I knew DSL would be faster, but I really didn’t expect it to be quite this fast.

For those of you my age or older, do you remember the old 1200 baud modems? Remember the first time you upgraded to 2400 baud and how screamin’ fast it was for getting on those direct-dial bulletin boards? That’s kind of what I expected.

This is nothing like that.

No, this is more like going from a rickshaw to a Lamborghini.

And just to raise the “cool” factor even more, I’ve got my wireless router hooked up, so now I can be anywhere in or around the house and access my smokin’ internet connection: porch, kitchen, bedroom, garage — you name it!

I know, this isn’t very exciting for you, you “haves” who’ve been taunting “have-nots” like me lo these many years with your speedy broadband. It’s all old-hat to you. But I don’t care. It’s new to me and I’m not ashamed to admit I’m ecstatic with the improvement over that old 56k modem I’ve been using.