Drivetime

@andreasduess @shuenw @andracoros Safety is naturally our number one concern, so not only have we looked into existing research on distracted driving but we are also conducting our own studies. The existing research shows that so-called Alertness Maintaining Tasks (AMTs for short - and trivia has been specifically tested as part of existing research) actually have a *positive* effect on driving safety, by slowing performance deterioration and maintaining a higher level of alertness for longer. Furthermore, we are seeing in our own studies that the safety effect is in fact multiplied for Drivetime in particular, because engaging in a mildly interactive trivia game in a hands-free context acts as a deterrent for the driver to engage in other, dangerous, mobile phone interactions (our university research partner calls this "double-dipping" on safety). So while we naturally understand the concern, and have anticipated pushback, we are very confident that we have the research on our side, and are on a mission to make driving not just more fun, social and interactive, but safer too!

@mastemine Talking to friends and family in person is indeed hugely different from talking on the phone and the research exist to prove it. The main difference is that a person sitting next to a driver moderates the conversation to respect the demands made by the environment on the driver. A phone conversation, or an app, does not. It's a distraction and raises the risk of having and accident approximately to that of consuming a couple of pints, then driving. From a University of Utah study: Researchers at the University of Utah found that all conversations are not created equal. There is something uniquely distracting about talking on the phone when you’re behind the wheel; conversations with people inside the car are far less distracting to drivers. Unlike cell phone callers, chatty passengers instinctively stop talking when driving conditions change, and they offer an extra set of eyes to alert drivers to nearly-missed exits or erratic drivers. “Passenger conversation is much safer than conversation on the cell phone,’’ said David Strayer, professor of psychology at the University of Utah and the study’s lead author. “When you’re in the same physical environment, you tend to adjust your discussions to the difficulty of driving. If driving becomes difficult, they stop talking or they point out hazards.’’ To gauge the effect of cell phone conversation compared to in-person chats in the car, the researchers put 96 drivers in a simulator, instructing them to drive several miles down the road and pull off at a rest stop ahead. The drivers conducted the experiment while talking to a friend on a cell phone or while talking to a friend seated nearby. Nearly every driver riding with a passenger completed the task – sometimes the passenger alerted the driver to the approaching rest stop. But half of the cell phone chatterers missed the exit, according to the study, published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. “They drove right past the exit without even stopping or noticing,’’ Dr. Strayer said. All of the cell phone drivers were using hands-free headsets, debunking the idea that it’s safer to talk on the phone while driving if you’re not holding a handset, Dr. Strayer noted. “In terms of risk, you’re as likely to be in an accident talking on the cell phone as you are if you are legally drunk,” Dr. Strayer said. “I see a lot of cases where instead of missing an exit, someone doesn’t see a stop sign or a stop light.”

I am aware of trivia AMT research. I'd say the outcome is inconclusive at best.

One could argue the same thing about car radios. At the end of the day, it's up to the driver to be responsible.

@zelena Thanks, and great questions! Right now, there is no wake word for answers since we only activate the microphone for a set period of time, after the question has been asked. So during that period, whatever you say will be recorded as the answer, and there is no need for a wake word. We're exploring truly hands-free game navigation/controls, but right now the intended user flow is to press play as you get into your car at the start of your commute (like you would with a podcast or audiobook), background Drivetime behind your favorite mapping app and play the game in the background while you drive, using your voice to say "A, B or C" (or the actual word will work too) after each question - no need to look at the screen or touch anything.

@niko_vuori Except that they will look at the screen... because that is where the answers are... and they will most certainly touch it to change topics, pause, or start over. This whole app concept seems incredibly irresponsible.