Textecution could kill in-car text messaging

by Stevie Smith - Jan 13 2009, 11:53

Arriving on the same day that the U.S National Safety Council (NSC) has issued a call for the complete banning of in-car mobile phone use, the Android-powered G1 phone has received a downloadable application capable of locking the handset’s text messaging capabilities.

Textecution application could help save lives. Image: nate_steiner/Flickr.

While unlikely to be voluntarily embraced by the majority of in-car mobile phone users, the aptly titled ‘Textecution’ application could well be the perfect solution for concerned parents keen on preserving the safety of their children.Textecution from Jonathan Young Enterprises works by measuring the speed the host handset is moving, recognising whenever that handset travels above 10mph and then instantly locking text message access until the phone comes to a complete stop.The downloadable application is compatible with Android devices, costs a mere $9.99 USD, and could potentially save the lives of young road users guilty of running the obvious risks associated with sending and receiving text messages while behind the wheel of a vehicle.“My own children were the inspiration behind Textecution,” explained Jonathan Young, president of Jonathan Young Enterprises LLC. “As a parent, I was concerned about their safety, and I felt the temptation for them to text while driving was simply too great.”Looking to expand the platform appeal of Textecution, Mr. Young, has said that various other handsets, including Apple’s iPhone, will also soon receive access to the application.According to a recent study conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, some 2,600 people die and some 12,000 are seriously injured each year in connection to in-car mobile phone use.

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JayJan 14th, 2009 - 04:01:05

What happens when the kid uninstalls the application from the phone?

I hope the installer and unistaller are password protected, further more most hand held devices come with a hard reset. that wipes the phone clean.

or better yet the next smart programmer writes a program to make people think the application is still install...

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ParentingFeb 12th, 2009 - 14:56:25

'... I felt the temptation for them to text while driving was simply too great'

Excellent parenting skills, way to teach your children self-control. If they aren't responsible enough to put the phone away, they shouldn't be driving in the first place.

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Textecution could kill in-car text messaging

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