MADD Increases Breathalyzer Usage
The group everyone is well informed of, Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), is attempting to go above and beyond like never before. State highways operators are already responsible for the drinking age to begin at 21 years old and the limit to be 0.8%. Now, MADD is taking this one step further. Already you can get a DUI and install a breathalyzer in your car in order to stay out of jail. A breathalyzer, according to alcoholalert.com, is an ignition interlock device that prevents a previous offender of drunk driving from starting their car until they have breathed into the device. This device tells reads the offenders blood alcohol content and will not start if they breathe over a 0.8%. Mothers Against Drunk Driving are now trying to implement a strong law that mandates these interlocked devices are installed in every car throughout the United States. Already these devices have reduced drunken accidents in New Mexico by 35%.
I think this is a great idea but needs some tweaking. Obviously drunk drivers account for a majority of the accidents on highways across the nation every year and are also responsible for numerous fatalities. While installing a breathalyzer in every car is a good idea I do not think it is practical. What if someone were to go out to dinner and a ball game and perhaps had a beer or two – would their car still start or would it assume they are drunk or incapable of driving? Also, this idea sort of falls in contradiction of our rights and freedoms, does it not? It is hard for me to understand where MADD gained the rights or knowledge to assume everybody drives drunk all the time. I understand their motive and good-will, I just don’t find it too practical. I do believe it would dramatically decrease accidents and other alcohol related dilemmas every year but it needs a little more thought and test trials before being mandated otherwise serious ethical issues and controversies may arise from the public. Society would greatly benefit from its overall affect though.
Reference Used:
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1907493,00.html?cnn=yes
Additional References:
http://www.alcoholalert.com/car-breathalyzer.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-04-24-breathalyzer-usat_x.htm
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Journal 14, July 1
Fatal Technology Dependence
As our dependence on technology increases, it seems we become more prone to it acting against us. Early last week two trains collided in the D.C.-Maryland area killing nine people. The rails are automatically operated by a system that dates back to the late 1970s meaning it is over 30-years old. Around 5 o’clock in the evening, two trains seemed to have bypassed the system and ran into each other. The systems emergency program should have realized that the conditions on the track were not suitable for both trains to be traveling the directions they were. For whatever reason, which is still be investigated, the message relayed by the sensors on the track never made it to the control room. Officials state, however, that these computerized control rooms that operate automatically, for the most part, are actually safer than humans operating them and human error occurring more frequently. Most large cities and metropolitan areas operate their rail systems on similar programs and have yet to have such a catastrophe. These cities include Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and hopefully soon-to-be Charlotte. The systems are actually extremely safe and receive updates and maintenance regularly.
Riding the train not only saves you money but is more efficient and safer, in majority. People in society are actually more at risk when driving than a being involved in a train wreck. The only stipulation with riding the train is that, more often than not, when a crash does occur multiple people are usually hurt if not killed. One of these particular trains was notified of safety concerns in 2006, states MSNBC, but failed to follow through with compliance. If society is going to give up driving themselves and ride public transit, they need to have to utmost trust in the city with their safety. Studies show that a majority of the people who drive believe they are better than average drivers when in fact only a small percentage are even somewhat descent at the task. Therefore, like I previous stated, in order for people to put their lives in the hands of public transit they need to be one-hundred percent positive the city has taken every precautionary measure to ensure their safety and well-being; I am doubtful that a train is any safer than a car when it comes to wrecks. However, we must remember we can not hide from accidents all our lives and riding the train is better on our wallets and the environment.
Reference Used:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/25/automatic.system.washington.crash/index.html
Additional Reference:
http://articles.directorym.com/Train_Accidents_Maryland-r995-Maryland.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31495088/ns/us_news-life/
As our dependence on technology increases, it seems we become more prone to it acting against us. Early last week two trains collided in the D.C.-Maryland area killing nine people. The rails are automatically operated by a system that dates back to the late 1970s meaning it is over 30-years old. Around 5 o’clock in the evening, two trains seemed to have bypassed the system and ran into each other. The systems emergency program should have realized that the conditions on the track were not suitable for both trains to be traveling the directions they were. For whatever reason, which is still be investigated, the message relayed by the sensors on the track never made it to the control room. Officials state, however, that these computerized control rooms that operate automatically, for the most part, are actually safer than humans operating them and human error occurring more frequently. Most large cities and metropolitan areas operate their rail systems on similar programs and have yet to have such a catastrophe. These cities include Boston, San Francisco, Miami, and hopefully soon-to-be Charlotte. The systems are actually extremely safe and receive updates and maintenance regularly.
Riding the train not only saves you money but is more efficient and safer, in majority. People in society are actually more at risk when driving than a being involved in a train wreck. The only stipulation with riding the train is that, more often than not, when a crash does occur multiple people are usually hurt if not killed. One of these particular trains was notified of safety concerns in 2006, states MSNBC, but failed to follow through with compliance. If society is going to give up driving themselves and ride public transit, they need to have to utmost trust in the city with their safety. Studies show that a majority of the people who drive believe they are better than average drivers when in fact only a small percentage are even somewhat descent at the task. Therefore, like I previous stated, in order for people to put their lives in the hands of public transit they need to be one-hundred percent positive the city has taken every precautionary measure to ensure their safety and well-being; I am doubtful that a train is any safer than a car when it comes to wrecks. However, we must remember we can not hide from accidents all our lives and riding the train is better on our wallets and the environment.
Reference Used:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/25/automatic.system.washington.crash/index.html
Additional Reference:
http://articles.directorym.com/Train_Accidents_Maryland-r995-Maryland.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31495088/ns/us_news-life/
Journal 13, July 1
Full-Body Gaming System: Microsoft
In ten years or so one could potentially use the principal behind a full-body gaming system to train for their job. Recently talked about on Newscientist.com is Microsoft, the company that brought you the PC and Xbox among other things, has begun the creation of a full-body gaming device. This system is like no other of its kind. With the code name Natal, this new system will be the most realistic in comparison to movements and emotions. Natal is based off of an inferred camera system made in the Middle East except this particular system only uses two cameras. One camera will focus on the depth between the individual and the object they are focusing and be within two centimeters without error. The second camera will be geared more towards catching the aspects around the individual such as color and texture. The only stipulation they have encountered so far is that the cameras will not pick up what is surrounding or behind the player. Also equipped with Natal is an emotion detector, if you will. The website Wired states that Natal will be able to sign players in by recognizing their facial characteristics as well as use their emotions while playing the game to increase reality. Emotions will also be analyzed through voice recognition. Although they have not come up with a way to work through the voice recognizer being successful in a room of a few people talking at once, some solutions are in talks. One possibility is to use lip-reading software while others suggest software that can recognize up the three voices at once when talking at the same time.
With gaming systems being created ever so quickly and becoming more realistic in the sense of graphics as well as replicating the user, training for high profile jobs such as military, swat team, or even pilots could use systems like this that would fully prepare them, in most cases, for what their job is really like. I find it extremely hard to believe that by the time this project is complete, the younger kids of today’s world will compare this to Atari when I was a kid. That is how much progress has been made in the gaming world since I was a child or just technology in general. With Microsoft creating a device that involved such involved I think this will widely open the doors for many new useful innovations.
Reference Used:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17258-innovation-behind-microsofts-fullbody-gaming-interface.html?page=2
Additional Reference:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/06/e3-microsoft-live-blog/
In ten years or so one could potentially use the principal behind a full-body gaming system to train for their job. Recently talked about on Newscientist.com is Microsoft, the company that brought you the PC and Xbox among other things, has begun the creation of a full-body gaming device. This system is like no other of its kind. With the code name Natal, this new system will be the most realistic in comparison to movements and emotions. Natal is based off of an inferred camera system made in the Middle East except this particular system only uses two cameras. One camera will focus on the depth between the individual and the object they are focusing and be within two centimeters without error. The second camera will be geared more towards catching the aspects around the individual such as color and texture. The only stipulation they have encountered so far is that the cameras will not pick up what is surrounding or behind the player. Also equipped with Natal is an emotion detector, if you will. The website Wired states that Natal will be able to sign players in by recognizing their facial characteristics as well as use their emotions while playing the game to increase reality. Emotions will also be analyzed through voice recognition. Although they have not come up with a way to work through the voice recognizer being successful in a room of a few people talking at once, some solutions are in talks. One possibility is to use lip-reading software while others suggest software that can recognize up the three voices at once when talking at the same time.
With gaming systems being created ever so quickly and becoming more realistic in the sense of graphics as well as replicating the user, training for high profile jobs such as military, swat team, or even pilots could use systems like this that would fully prepare them, in most cases, for what their job is really like. I find it extremely hard to believe that by the time this project is complete, the younger kids of today’s world will compare this to Atari when I was a kid. That is how much progress has been made in the gaming world since I was a child or just technology in general. With Microsoft creating a device that involved such involved I think this will widely open the doors for many new useful innovations.
Reference Used:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17258-innovation-behind-microsofts-fullbody-gaming-interface.html?page=2
Additional Reference:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/06/e3-microsoft-live-blog/
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