Never look at your phone again while driving

Cellphones have become a huge distraction in the car, often causing accidents as drivers become more focused on their messages than getting getting to their destination in one piece. However, Project Ray has developed a system that aims to keep people concentrating on their driving, writes LIRON SEGEV.

We all know that using our phones while driving is a no-no. It is distracting and potentially lethal. The use of mobile phones when driving has been directly linked to car accidents around the world, forcing governments to intervene and introduced heavy fines in order to try stop this “must connect” trend.

However, even with these legislations, our need to instantly answer messages when hearing the beep seems to be an involuntary reaction.

Instead of ignoring the issue, an Israeli company called Project Ray decided to tackle the issue head on. The company specialises in creating software for the visually impaired that allows them to use their smartphone app. Project Ray adapted its software technology which doesn’t require the user to see the phone and created RayGo – a kickstarter project that allows the driver to view messages without taking eyes off the road.

The system is made up of two components: software and hardware. The software is installed on the mobile phone and as soon as it senses that the car is moving, it automatically switches on DriveMode. In this mode the phone’s screen has a simplified version of the app.

The hardware is made up of a unit that clips on your the steering wheel and has five buttons: Up, Down, Left, Right and Select. When a message comes in, the RayGo software will then read the messages allowing you to respond by recording a voice message or sending a pre-scripted notification that you are driving.

Another feature of the system is that when it senses that the driver should be focusing on the road and so holds back the alerts and doesn’t play messages until you are out of the car.

At launch, RayGo will work with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Spotify, Gmail, SMS and telephone apps with more apps like Skype to follow.

* Liron Segev is also known as The Techie Guy. You can read his blog at http://www.thetechieguy.com or follow him on Twitter on @Liron_Segev