Soon You'll Be Able to Text Your Emergency to 911

As reported by PBS: The Federal Communications Commission voted on Friday to require all of the U.S.’s cell phone carriers and popular messaging applications to allow users to text 911 to emergency response units.

Since 2012, customers using any one of the four largest carriers in the country — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile — have been able use text-to-911 service, following a voluntary agreement between the companies and the FCC. However, today’s 3-2 vote will require smaller, regional carriers to follow suit by the end of the year.

“Texting is now as important a function on a mobile device as talking. Some of those text messages are cries for help,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said. “Some of those are from people who can’t hear or speak. Call 911 if you can. But if you can’t, what are you going to do?”

The requirement seeks to address the changing ways in which people are communicating, and is not without significant hurdles. According to the FCC, more than 70 percent of attempts to get in contact with emergency services originate from cell phones while only two percent of emergency responders nationwide are currently equipped to accept the messaging.

“In your moment of need, if you try to reach 911, you won’t reach it no matter what application you use,” warned Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, who voted against the regulation. “Nothing in this order will change that fact any time soon.”

Additionally, unlike cell phone calls, it is difficult to determine the exact physical origin of a text message, particularly in residences with multiple floors.

The FCC’s new rule comes at a time when cell phone users are increasingly using third-party messaging apps like Google Voice, iMessage and WhatsApp that provide SMS-like services that are handled via Internet protocol. As of Friday, the FCC will require all third-party applications that interconnect with the traditional SMS infrastructure to comply with its rules, but it expressed its intent to reach out to developers to make text-to-911 universal.

“Our first responsibility is to provide for the safety of Americans,” Wheeler said, following the vote. “This is a step to continue to fulfill that responsibility. And it is not a final step.”

New DARPA Technologies: Beyond GPS

DARPA researchers at the University of Michigan report that they have made significant progress with a timing and inertial measurement unit (TIMU) that contains everything needed to aid navigation when GPS is temporarily unavailable. The single-chip TIMU prototype contains a six-axis IMU (three gyroscopes and three accelerometers) and integrates a highly-accurate master clock into a single miniature system, smaller than the size of a penny. This chip integrates devices (clocks, gyroscopes and accelerometers), materials and designs from DARPA’s Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (Micro-PNT) program.

As reported by Information Week: When it comes to military operations, GPS is not always a reliable technology for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Yet PNT capabilities are essential to targeting missiles; navigation for land, sea, and air forces; and precision in military operations overall. That's why the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has created several programs to develop other approaches that offer more dependable and accurate PNT capabilities when GPS isn't working properly.

"We are putting new physics, new devices, and new algorithms on the job so our people and our systems can break free of their reliance on GPS," DARPA director Arati Prabhakar said in a statement.

The restricted nature of GPS is due to environmental factors such as solar storms, when signals are degraded, and is especially apparent to war-fighters underground and underwater. GPS transmit levels from orbiting satellites are extremely low power and are therefore weakened by the time they reach Earth. The signals can also be obstructed by dense trees or buildings. They also cannot penetrate water, which makes GPS problematic for various military applications.

"More worrisome is that adversaries can jam signals. GPS continues to be vital, but its limitations in some environments could make it an Achilles' heel if war-fighters rely on it as their sole source of PNT information," DARPA says on its program website. In fact, illegal devices that jam GPS signals are becoming increasingly available. Some simple gadgets that plug into 12-volt car receptacle connectors and cost as little as $30 can render GPS systems inoperable for miles, according to GPS systems provider NovAtel.

In its search for new technologies that offer an alternative to GPS, DARPA is particularly interested in systems that provide long-duration precision and accuracy in positioning and timing for global synchronization, secure communications, and cooperative effects. Such technologies include architectures for ad-hoc PNT networks, sensors, and signal processing designed to perform in adverse environments, and new architectures that enable communications, electronic warfare (EW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems to support PNT systems.

The agency needs affordable, compact, and flexible systems that can be used for a broad range of defense missions. For example, DARPA issued a solicitation in June seeking proposals for PNT systems that can operate independent of GPS, as part of its Spatial, Temporal, and Orientation Information in Contested Environments (STOIC) program.  

Microtechnology for positioning, navigation, and timing (Micro-PNT) enables extreme miniaturization using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. DARPA researchers have built a prototype that contains three gyroscopes, three accelerometers, and a master clock on a chip -- small enough to fit on a penny. These self-calibrating, high-performance microscale sensors are not only affordable, but they also offer size, weight, and power (SWAP) improvements over currently available sensors.

DARPA's Program in Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) is using pulsed laser technology to improve atomic clocks and microwave sources, including their size and precision. For example, PULSE enables more accurate time and frequency synchronization over long distances. According to DARPA, PULSE technology is necessary for super-accurate atomic clocks, such as the world's most accurate optical atomic clocks.

DARPA is developing adaptable navigation systems (ANS), which entail new algorithms and architectures for plug-and-play integration of PNT sensors across multiple platforms. ANS uses cold-atom interferometry, which "measures the relative acceleration and rotation of a cloud of atoms stored within a sensor," according to DARPA's website. The agency's vision is to cut development costs and deployment time from months to days, and use quantum physics to build accurate inertial measurement devices that can operate longer without requiring external data to determine time and position. Additionally, ANS is exploiting non-navigational electromagnetic signals, such as lightning strikes, to provide stronger signals than GPS.

Quantum-assisted sensing and readout (QuASAR) has the ability to take atomic clocks out of labs and make them both robust and portable. This could result in new radar, metrology, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications. DARPA's QuASAR program builds on atomic physics to develop a set of measurement tools that will be applicable across disciplines. The Defense Department specifically would have access to various types of devices that include imaging, inertial navigation, and robust global positioning systems.

DARPA's Spatial, Temporal, and Orientation Information in Contested Environments (STOIC) program focuses on developing systems that provide non-GPS positioning, navigation, and timing with GPS-level timing. STOIC encompasses three primary elements that have the potential to provide PNT independent of GPS: long-range robust reference signals, ultra-stable tactical clocks, and multifunctional systems that deliver PNT information among multiples users. When complete, STOIC will offer better PNT in challenging environments where GPS isn't working properly or is unavailable.

Drone Crashes and Sinks into Popular Yellowstone Hot Spring

As reported by The Verge: A tourist at Yellowstone National Park accidentally crashed a drone into one of the park's most popular hot springs on Saturday: the Grand Prismatic Spring. 

Drones are banned at all US national parks, but the blanket rule hasn't done much to stop visitors who are determined to capture amazing scenic views from the skies. Unfortunately, the Yellowstone incident is a perfect example of what can happen when operators make mistakes, and it won't do anything to help more considerate enthusiasts plead their case with the National Park Service.

Authorities are now trying to decide whether they'll need to recover the camera-equipped drone from the Grand Prismatic Spring. At 370 feet in diameter and well over 100 feet deep, it's the largest hot spring at Yellowstone, and a recovery mission could present potential damage risks of its own. "What we have to determine is whether the presence of this radio-controlled recreational aircraft poses a threat to that unique resource," a spokesperson told Reuters.

Complaints about unmanned aerial vehicles have been on the rise at Yellowstone and other parks, and the ban against drones — announced in June — was clearly intended to quell some of that frustration among tourists. But so far it's done little to help. Speaking to CNN, another spokesperson said, "The technology certainly has been around for a while, but this is the year that the problem has seemed to come to light for us."

Crazy German Leaves The Driver’s Seat In A Self-Driving Infiniti Q50 On The Highway

As reported by MotorAuthority: In a way, we admire the intestinal fortitude of the German in this video. In the interest of science, or at least YouTube views, he sets an Infiniti Q50S in self-driving mode and lets it cruise down the highway. Then he climbs out of the driver’s seat.

In another way, we think this guy is completely crazy and more than a little dangerous to allow the Active Lane Control in the Infiniti to have complete control over the vehicle, and to take himself out of a position where he would be able to quickly and safely regain control if needed.

On balance, this is an impressive video to watch, as the Infiniti does an admirable job of driving itself along a gently curving, well-marked highway in moderate traffic. But it’s also a great example of what not to do if you should find yourself in possession of a semi-autonomous car.

Navdy: Heads-Up Car Display to Work with iPhone or Android Smartphones

As reported by ComputerWorld: Using a phone while driving can be risky business, even if it's connected to an infotainment system, because it can still require a driver to glance away from the road to look at phone's screen. But a new windshield display technology that uses touchless gesture recognition and echo- and noise-canceling voice recognition hopes to address that problem.

The prototype heads-up display (HUD), called Navdy, has been launched as a crowdsourcing project, allowing anyone to pre-order it for $299 -- 40% off the $499 retail price. The company hopes to raise $60,000 for production.

Crowdsourcing backers who pre-order get a discount for spreading the word; everytime someone buys Navdy from a referral, the person who referred it gets a $30 discount. In other words, after 10 referrals the Navdy would be free. Early project backers also get to vote on which smartphone apps and features they'd like Navdy to support when it ships in early 2015.

Navdy is not the first portable HUD. GPS manufacturer Garmin released a portable HUD called the HUD+ earlier this year. The HUD+ retails for $180, but does not include hand gesture controls and apps can add to the cost of the device.

For example, the ability to speak street names can for navigation can cost up to $35. And, Garmin's Viago app can require up to $95 of add-ons to activate all of its features, according to a review in the New York Times.

Car manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW and Cadillac also offer HUD as an option, but those systems can run $3,000 or more.

Navdy works with navigation apps such as Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions, and music apps such as Spotify, Pandora, iTunes Music and Google Play Music. Using voice commands via Apple's Siri or Google Voice, the HUD can also write, read aloud or display notifications from text messages or social media apps, such as Twitter. Navdy is compatible with iPhone (iOS 7 and beyond) and Android (4.3 and beyond) smartphones.

Phone calls, texting or other applications can also be controlled with hand gestures enabled by an infrared camera.  

The Navdy HUD includes an internal accelerometer, e-compass and an ambient light sensor that automatically brightens or dims the display to adjust to the light around it. "Navdy is built from the ground up to be the safest and most intuitive way to make calls, use navigation, listen to music or access notifications without ever looking away from the road," Navdy co-founder and CEO Doug Simpson said in a statement.



The Navdy uses large and easy-to-see proprietary apps such as navigation specifically designed not to inhibit driving. The device simply adheres to the driver side dashboard and projects a 5.1-in transparent screen that appears to float six feet in front of the windshield so a driver can maintain focus on the road.  

Navdy can be moved from vehicle to vehicle and syncs with iPhone or Android smartphones via WiFi (802.11 b/g/n) or Bluetooth 4.0/LE.



Simpson said the idea for the HUD came from rethinking how to make mobile apps more intuitive and easy to control when someone is driving a car or truck. "Drivers are three times more likely to get into an accident when they take their eyes off the road to look down at a touchscreen," Simpson said. "Smartphones were never designed to be used while driving. Touchscreen-based apps force you to take your eyes off the road."
Other NAVDY features include:

• Audio out via Bluetooth or 3.5mm minijack, mini-USB port
• Internal speaker and microphone with noise canceling DSP
• Dual core processor running Android 4.4
• OBD-II power and data connection to car computer, with optional 12 volt power adapter
• Portable, bendable, non-marking, powered friction mount, with magnetic connection to the device

The Navdy is about 5-in. x 5.5-in. x 3.7-in. in size.

The HUD device works by plugging into a vehicle's onboard computer (OBD II) port, which is standard on any car or truck manufactured after 1996. 

In addition to navigation instructions, incoming calls, or being able to use voice commands to text, the HUD can also display a car's speed or if any alerts from the car's onboard computer, such as the "check engine" light, miles-to-empty, fuel economy stats, tire-pressure warning or battery-voltage warning from the car's computer.  

"It's the same technology used by airline pilots to keep their eyes on the runway while landing an airplane," the company said.

When Driving With GPS is Against the Law

As reported by Consumer Reports: We love our GPS navigation devices, if only because they spare us from begging for directions from clueless strangers. And whether we get our GPS data from a stand-alone personal navigation device or a smart phone, we can rest assured that they are legal in all 50 states, unlike, say, radar detectors.  

Well, not always. GPS devices are covered under distracted-driving laws. Whether you’re in compliance depends on how you use them, even how you install them. And failing to follow the rules is not only expensive in terms of tickets, points against your license, and higher insurance premiums, it can also be dangerous.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2012 (those are the latest figures available) and 3,328 of them died. Those figures include many forms of driving distractions, including texting, grooming, and fiddling with the in-dash radio. And, yes, GPS apps were involved in some of those crashes.

Jerry Levine, a New York City-based attorney specializing in traffic-violation cases, says the growing popularity of smart phones has kept him busy. “A lot of people think it’s okay to hold an iPhone in your hands and use it in GPS or speakerphone mode,” he said. “That’s not only illegal, but a good way to get injured or killed.”

Even if you escape injury while doing that, you are risking a substantial amount in fines and other penalties. For example, in New York State, improper use of a cell phone while driving can slap 5 points on your license, which not only carries penalties of its own, but can also help propel you into a new category of penalties, New York’s Driver Responsibility Assessment, a fee that can be as high as $750 to be paid off in three years.  In New York, your license to drive goes bye-bye when you accrue 11 points.

Wherever you live, here's what you can do to avoid trouble.

Go hands-off

While law specifics vary from state to state, one situation is always illegal: holding an electronic device, including a phone, while operating a motor vehicle.

“The way the laws are written,” Levine said, “if you’re holding an electronic device in a prominent manner, there’s a presumption that you’re using it.” But cops don’t have to see the device. Sometimes all it takes is for them to see that you don’t have both hands on the wheel.

If you need to make a call, send a text, or program your GPS, do it before you leave, or pull into a safe place on the side of the road.  Some states, such as New York, do make allowances for medical and other 911 emergencies.

Being pulled over can open another can of worms. The police will have the right to check for other violations, such as not wearing safety belts and driving with expired insurance cards.

Mount your device properly

According to GPStracklog, a site devoted to the care and feeding of GPS enthusiasts, mounting your phone or PND on a windshield—including using the mount made for your device—is illegal in 28 states.

And even where windshield mounts are legal, some states are quite particular about where on the windshield they can go. For instance, in California and Hawaii, you can windshield-mount a GPS device within a 5-inch section on the driver’s side, or a 7-inch section on the passenger side. California adds the proviso that the installation not interfere with air bags. Some states are a bit vaguer than that. Minnesota statutes 169.70 and 169.72, for instance, stipulate that: “A person shall not drive or operate any motor vehicle with global positioning systems or navigation systems when mounted or located near the bottom-most portion of the windshield.”

If state laws ruin your plans for a windshield mount, don’t worry, you’ve still got plenty of OEM and aftermarket options. Most manufacturers include a plastic disk that sticks to the dashboard to give you an alternative mounting location. Another option is a bean bag mount, which simply sits on the dashboard and has a rubberized surface to hold it in place.

Choose the right device

Smart phones give you multiple options for GPS navigation apps, complete with traffic views, alternate-route suggestions, and other features to ensure a smooth trip. And their large, often-bright displays make them easy read on a sun-drenched dashboard. But phone apps use up precious data from your monthly plan to update the maps, and they may lose their way during phone calls or when you drop your cellular signal.

Heavy GPS users may want to consider a stand-alone device for GPS navigation, such as one of the recommended models from our recently updated Ratings. Most come with free lifetime map updates and traffic reporting, though the traffic data they display is often not as current or as detailed as the data you get on cell phones. Look for models with displays of at least 4.3 inches. The larger the screen, the easier it will be to see street names and other map details. Larger displays also mean that buttons and keyboards are more convenient to use when you are entering addresses.

Lyft Announces its Own CarPool Feature, One Day After Uber

As reported by GigaOM: For those of you wondering why Uber broke the news of its new carpooling feature after 8 pm ET last night, we now have a potential answer. It looks like Uber may have been trying to beat its pink mustachioed rival — Lyft — to the punch.

This morning Lyft announced its own version of carpooling: Lyft Line. Passengers going the same direction can request “Line” within the app, the same way they might request a regular Lyft or a Lyft Plus. The app will match people who are requesting pick up in the same neighborhood, and the Lyft driver will swing around to get everyone.

The interface of the Lyft app, with the added carpool option under the “Line” tab
Just like with Uber’s proposed “UberPool,” this is likely to be a slower car ordering option than regular Lyft, but it will slash the costs. The app will automatically deduct a discount that’s 10-60 percent less than the ride would normally be otherwise, so passengers don’t need to haggle among themselves to figure out a fair split.

“Even if a match isn't made, passengers will still get a ride as requested, and will pay the fixed discounted price shown when they first requested the ride,” said a Lyft spokeswoman. “This will feel like an original Lyft ride at a more affordable price.” UberPool will also offer customers a discount, regardless of whether they find a carpooling match.

The similarities between Lyft Line and UberPool are so striking that it’s likely information was leaked between the two competitors. Uber may have been the first to make its new feature announcement, but Lyft is more prepared to actually roll it out. The company had a polished commercial to accompany the blog post and is launching the feature to all iOS users in San Francisco starting today, whereas Uber is testing UberPool with a beta group before slowly rolling it out to more people starting August 15th.

Either way, as with all of the price wars and product competition happening in ridesharing, the consumer ultimately benefits. Lyft Line and UberPool cut ridesharing costs even more, which will in turn widen the audience of people who can afford to use them.

As I mentioned yesterday, it was strange to see Uber roll out a carpooling option before Lyft, given that the initial premise of Lyft’s company was carpooling. Back in the day, co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green launched a company called Zimride that matched people traveling long distances for rides, with the added benefit of energy conservation and community building. Zimride pivoted into Lyft — a not-particularly-energy-efficient alternative — when the Lyft side experiment took off with users.

It appears the company never forgot its original mission.