RE: Nissan Signal Shield aims to reduce smartphone use
Saturday 13th May 2017
The FOMO element of smartphone addiction has made checking our devices a reflex action whenever there's a couple of free seconds. Even if that happens to be while driving round the M25 (other motorways are available). Penalties for phone use have increased but according to RAC figures shared by Nissan illegal operation of handheld devices has soared from 8 per cent of drivers in 2014 to nearly a third in 2016.
Car manufacturers are constantly banging on about connectivity while trying to find safe ways for us to enjoy our phones on the move. But Nissan is rather going the other way, exploiting a British invention from the Victorian age to block phone signal and remove temptation to use it while on the move. A Faraday cage installed in the armrest of a Nissan Juke (called Signal Shield) blocks electromagnetic waves and creates a 'silent zone' that prevents all cellular, Bluetooth and wifi connections to the phone, giving you a digital detox as you drive. If you like the concept but aren't sold on the idea of driving a Juke, a drive into Wales can, of course, achieve the same effect. If you prefer to listen to the music stored on the phone, the user can still connect via USB. You can then restore the connection by opening the Signal Shield and wait for the unread texts and Whatsapp messages to pour in.
Nissan Signal Shield aims to reduce smartphone use
Faraday cage 'phonebox' to help you switch off from distractions and enjoy phone-free driving
If you really can't bear the thought of disappearing from your social whirl while at the wheel Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offer the ability to dictate texts rather than tap them out with the phone on your lap. For those with more self discipline and the willingness to have that enforced by the Signal Shield's protective cocoon Nissan's idea may yet have appeal.
Discussion
It's essentially a pointless device from what I can tell.
If you're the sort of person who is inclined to check WhatsApp, text or whatever whilst driving, then you aren't going to put your phone in this compartment. If you already don't check your phone whilst driving then this thing is pretty much irrelevant to you, because you wouldn't have touched your phone anyway.
edit: Too lazy to flip your phone to silent or DND?
If you're the sort of person who is inclined to check WhatsApp, text or whatever whilst driving, then you aren't going to put your phone in this compartment. If you already don't check your phone whilst driving then this thing is pretty much irrelevant to you, because you wouldn't have touched your phone anyway.
edit: Too lazy to flip your phone to silent or DND?
It's about time car manufacturers fitted phone signal killers as standard.
Can't count the number of times I have looked in my rear view mirror and seen a car following too close with the driver clearly looking at the phone?
People cannot, unfortunately be trusted. Seems simple to me - fit a device that stops signals when the ignition is on. problem solved
Can't count the number of times I have looked in my rear view mirror and seen a car following too close with the driver clearly looking at the phone?
People cannot, unfortunately be trusted. Seems simple to me - fit a device that stops signals when the ignition is on. problem solved
Durzel said:
If you're the sort of person who is inclined to check WhatsApp, text or whatever whilst driving, then you aren't going to put your phone in this compartment. If you already don't check your phone whilst driving then this thing is pretty much irrelevant to you, because you wouldn't have touched your phone anyway.
This.I agree with the above comments. It still requires the driver to make the conscious decision to place it in the box. If they want to check their messages/ text whilst driving/ make calls/ play candy crush or whatever then they will do...
The only way a concept like this would work is if the whole car is a faraday cage, but no good for anyone else who is in the car and would torpedo any kind of Google Maps navigation or the like.
The only way this issue will go away is to educate/ punish the people doing it.
The only way a concept like this would work is if the whole car is a faraday cage, but no good for anyone else who is in the car and would torpedo any kind of Google Maps navigation or the like.
The only way this issue will go away is to educate/ punish the people doing it.
The Spruce goose said:
how? you open the lid and take the phone out, hey presto the phone works.
things like this are a good idea people are too lazy to turn phones off etc.
Those too lazy to turn the phone off or put it in aeroplane mode will be punished by the phone battery getting flat much more quickly, so this seems like a great invention.things like this are a good idea people are too lazy to turn phones off etc.
[quote=hyphen]Perfect for criminals, place phone in there and police can't track you.
[quote=criminal]
I can't imagine any self respecting criminal using a Juke. It seems like reasonable idea though. Not sure why hands free phones are still allowed though as they are just as distracting.
[quote=criminal]
I can't imagine any self respecting criminal using a Juke. It seems like reasonable idea though. Not sure why hands free phones are still allowed though as they are just as distracting.
ukaskew said:
I find it amusing that so much effort is being made to reduce phone use in cars, yet many new models no longer have physical controls (that after a few hours you can use without so much as a glance) for many functions, as they've been replaced with touch screens.
After a previous discussion it's apparent only people younger than me, 41 no how to use touch screens without looking at them, personally I think touch screen should be banned from cars Durzel said:
It's essentially a pointless device from what I can tell.
If you're the sort of person who is inclined to check WhatsApp, text or whatever whilst driving, then you aren't going to put your phone in this compartment. If you already don't check your phone whilst driving then this thing is pretty much irrelevant to you, because you wouldn't have touched your phone anyway.
Agreed.If you're the sort of person who is inclined to check WhatsApp, text or whatever whilst driving, then you aren't going to put your phone in this compartment. If you already don't check your phone whilst driving then this thing is pretty much irrelevant to you, because you wouldn't have touched your phone anyway.
Ex Boy Racer said:
It's about time car manufacturers fitted phone signal killers as standard.
And what about those occasions where you do need to make a short, safe (hands-free) phone call? Not just emergencies, but something as simple as letting your partner know about traffic, or an issue at home or the child's school? Something where a 60-sec call can save a lot of bother....and then there's stuff like navigation and traffic apps which use mobile data for constructive purposes. I use Inrix (and iPhone owning friends use Waze) - the phone is in a cradle just inside the A-pillar (easy line-of-sight, minimal obstruction to view), it's easier to view than a screen on the centre-console and it works SO much better than the manufacturer-supplied "traffic alerts". And it's completely legal in operation as I just set it up and don't need to touch it.
I really despair of the "ban everything" attitude we have in this country. The problem isn't that we need more legislation, just that we need current legislation enforcing actively*. "Treat people like children and they'll behave like children" is a little twee but it's still accurate...
* The big issue with phones is people know they won't get caught as there's hardly any police on the roads anymore and those that are generally have more important things to do unless you're driving like an idiot. Start actively policing it and the problem will soon go away...just like drink-driving incidences started plummeting 20+ years ago!
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