Response to Marco on “disgusting” behavior

Why lobbying for Google Glass while driving isn’t “disgraceful”

I read Marco’s post today on how Google is lobbying for allowing drivers to wear Glass while driving. Marco wrote,

…to actively fight against clear, valid safety concerns makes them an accomplice — morally, if not legally.

This action by Google is simply reckless, disgusting, and disgraceful.

He might not be aware because he’s a devoted iPhone user, but most new smartphones on both Android and Windows Phone 8 have a feature called “driving mode” which will turn off notifications, texts, and if you want, calls while driving. It will, however, leave features like GPS enabled. Who says Glass won’t implement this feat? Is Apple “disgusting” for actively ignoring this safety feature that is implemented across the industry? I don’t believe this, but based on Marco’s post this behavior should be deemed so.

The funny thing is, he probably uses Apple Maps or GPS while driving. Think if when smartphones were coming out no lobbyists came out and defended it. We’d all still be printing out Google Maps directions and reading tiny print instead of listening to voice directions of GPS. Plus, wouldn’t overlaying the map onto the actual road be safer than glancing at your phone and taking your eyes off the road?

I think it’s a little preemptive to ban a technology rather than put safety features on it. I’d rather see safety checks like not being able to play games, watch movies, etc. than outright banishing especially when there are far worse safety concerns. Concerns such as reading a physical print outs of directions or reading directions on your phone. How about we first see what Google has in mind. Instead of focusing your energy on something we don’t know how it’ll end up, why not push Apple to implement safer driving features everyone else is supporting?