Tablet PC in Cars? Oh no!
Tuesday, November 1st, 2005Palmaddict reports that Ford is installing Tablet PC’s in their new trucks using Stargate Mobile technologies.
While this is probably a bad idea for most of us it is also inevitable. The Tablet PC connoisseur in me says Yes, the rational one in me says No. I am already wildly annoyed at people using cell phones in cars and studies are clear that this multi tasking is at the detriment to the safety of all. Here are some of the details on what Ford is doing in creating the mobile office:
Features:
- Tablet PC Running a Windows XP Pro OS
- Mobile and Rugged (No Moving Parts)
- High Bright Touch Screen Display
- Vehicle and Desk Docking Stations
- Mobile Work Bag w/ Keyboard
- Visual or Voice Prompted GPS Navigation
- Internet Access (Email, WWW, FTP)
Tablet PC specifications:
- Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 1GHz Processor
- 256 MB SDRAM
- 4 GB Flash Memory
- USB 2 port
- PMCIA slot
- Compact Flash Slot
- High Bright 8.4” SVGA Display
- Vehicle Cradle w/ USB and 12V Power Port
- Hot Swappable Lithium Ion Battery
- Programmable External Buttons
There is a study in the New England Journal of Medicine which found that your chances of getting into an accident quadruples when using a cellphone while driving:
Association between cellular-telephone calls and motor vehicle collisions, NEJM
Perhaps service ads for "No Tablet PCing While Driving" will be in the works soon!
