Mobile Phone Feature Warns Pedestrians

Being distracted by mobile phones, MP3 players, GPS, and other technology while on the road has proven to be dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. Even athletes riding their bikes or jogging on the streets are at risk of being hit by a car when distracted by loud music. A Japanese company is testing safety mobile phone technology that would warn pedestrians on oncoming traffic, possibly help them avoid being hit by a car, according to a PC World article.

OKI is working on technology to equip both mobile phones and vehicles with Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) technology. This technology will exchange location information between drivers and pedestrians within seconds by creating a DSRC wireless area with a radius of several hundred meters per device. Devices in the area send out location information at a certain time interval, and when the system sees a possible collision, it warns both pedestrian and driver.

Pedestrians will then feel their phone vibrate when it locates a vehicle within 150 meters, while drivers will receive voice warnings from their GPS system within seconds. This technology is expected to be released in Japan by 2011, but lets hope it comes to the US on or before that date. This is definitely one feature we all need.

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