New Cell Can Tell If You're DrunkThey were originally designed to simply make phone calls without tying callers to one location. But today's cell phones can do so much more, from snapping digital photos to sending text messages to playing video.
You can add one more feature to the list: a sobriety test.
That's right, cell phones with built-in Breathalyzers are set to hit the U.S. market. So after a night of too much to drink, you can pull out the device to see if you're fit to get behind the wheel.
South Korean manufacturer LG will introduce the LP4100 to the U.S. market sometime in the near future -- though no date is set.
The phones were previewed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show -- CES -- in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Here's how it works: Users blow into a small spot on the phone, and if they've had too much to drink the phone issues a warning and shows a weaving car hitting traffic cones.
"So they test it and it says don't drive so they leave their car or call the taxi," explained Sung Mee Cho of Seju Engineering Inc.
The company also sells plug-in Breathalyzer adapters for some phones. None of the models tell you exactly how much you may be over or under the legal limit, but it can keep you from making other alcohol-related mistakes.
The LP4100 also allows users to set up the phone so on certain nights and after a certain time they do not call certain people in their phone book. Think ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend.
If you have a blood alcohol level over .08, the phone will not let you dial that person. So it not only promotes sobriety, but chastity -- and probably your dignity, as well.
You can add one more feature to the list: a sobriety test.
That's right, cell phones with built-in Breathalyzers are set to hit the U.S. market. So after a night of too much to drink, you can pull out the device to see if you're fit to get behind the wheel.
South Korean manufacturer LG will introduce the LP4100 to the U.S. market sometime in the near future -- though no date is set.
The phones were previewed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show -- CES -- in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Here's how it works: Users blow into a small spot on the phone, and if they've had too much to drink the phone issues a warning and shows a weaving car hitting traffic cones.
"So they test it and it says don't drive so they leave their car or call the taxi," explained Sung Mee Cho of Seju Engineering Inc.
The company also sells plug-in Breathalyzer adapters for some phones. None of the models tell you exactly how much you may be over or under the legal limit, but it can keep you from making other alcohol-related mistakes.
The LP4100 also allows users to set up the phone so on certain nights and after a certain time they do not call certain people in their phone book. Think ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend.
If you have a blood alcohol level over .08, the phone will not let you dial that person. So it not only promotes sobriety, but chastity -- and probably your dignity, as well.
5 comments:
its a scary thought but seems worthwile.this just serves to prove that the comminication aspect of the cellphone is not that important anymore it has become more of a basis for the development of other technologies to be incorporated into the cellphone.but i am always up for new inventions in the name of decreasing the number of deaths as well as the number of people that disgrace themselves from time to time on certain special nights
Wow this is amazing!!! Its always hard to know exactly how much you are allowed to drink, because it depends on body size and mass and how much you have eaten etc.. (I sound like a real alcoholic here, but really I hardly ever drink and its usually only a glass or two of wine!)
Cell phones are truly becoming mans best friend...with MANY benefits!!!
It is absolutely amazing what people can come up with these days! I would have never imagined that it would be possible to install a breathalyzer into a cellphone!
This is quite an achievement and these phones should definately be distributed around the world as they would aid in making our streets safer and free from druken drivers!
very informative post Adhir-well done!
I must say that this is really interesting. Hopefully this will put more emphasis on the notion of dont drink and drink. I think people should by the phone with a Breathalyzer, it can really help those who cant have a limit.
That is real interesting
Thats a real technology merge which is excellent.
Its scary and exciting what cell phones are advancing to do these days...
South Africa has so many drunkn drivers maybe this is the type of thing our roads need to become safer.
But what is sad that that's what society has come to, that we have to have breathalizer cell phones as we can not control our selves any more, that we risk our lives and other innocent victims.
Why?
why do people drink so much? why has our society become like that?
Was it like this 20 years ago? did people drink like this? South African roads have become so dangerous especially holiday seasons. This is sad what has happened to our society and is it going to get any better or worse?
But maybe as technology advances it will bring a solution to this dilema.
mandy chibambo
Post a Comment