Enabling drivers to interact safely with applications and services

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc-hwr0uh40hWeQvWVf0sZW5bjoB8C_nzfPq9rQV357TDt6Plrd4CSDma_j8WTFRjqnvpJVAoN4NSeEseLzPwiOC1Cu0EVuNNQjWnVXJpDcR-FIYDt4gerWR2bJdfc1p2-a8Q15l-X7g/s1600/scott_pennock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc-hwr0uh40hWeQvWVf0sZW5bjoB8C_nzfPq9rQV357TDt6Plrd4CSDma_j8WTFRjqnvpJVAoN4NSeEseLzPwiOC1Cu0EVuNNQjWnVXJpDcR-FIYDt4gerWR2bJdfc1p2-a8Q15l-X7g/s1600/scott_pennock.jpg" /></a></div>Since February 2011, QNX Software Systems has been leading an <a href="http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/distraction/Pages/default.aspx">international standards effort</a> to help drivers interact safely with applications and services. And not just apps on phones, but apps running in the cloud, in roadside infrastructure systems, in the car itself, and other locations.<br /><br />If you jump to the end of this post, you’ll find a list of use cases being targeted by this effort. For now, let’s look at Use Case 2, Scenario A (arbitration of external message), which illustrates how we are working towards a comprehensive framework for managing distraction and workload.<br /><br /><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Keeping priorities straight</b></span><br />In this user scenario, a navigation maneuver is given priority over a social media status update message. The blue call-out boxes indicate where the ITU-T recommendations under development can enable safe interaction between the driver and applications. For instance, ITU-T recommendation G.SAM will define mechanisms for prioritizing navigation, while G.V2A will define the communications interface between the app and the driver-vehicle interface (DVI), and P.UIA will recommend characteristics of the auditory social media message. <br /><br />Remember that the focus here isn't on how to implement social media in the car, but rather, on how best to manage workload and distraction.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEfao_hRE7Whfq1IUHA5xT3j7vgYUTfLw1h_H7IEdaa79xI7lXPAJN66pB4mRj-6obIOJG3I6YI93iii6LfpkKccE67x_ROpSX1F5E3cB_16CtqG0VDZrBuVDgd48L_5a54gHezqiW_I/s1600/fg_driver_distraction_usecase2_scenarioa_600px.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEfao_hRE7Whfq1IUHA5xT3j7vgYUTfLw1h_H7IEdaa79xI7lXPAJN66pB4mRj-6obIOJG3I6YI93iii6LfpkKccE67x_ROpSX1F5E3cB_16CtqG0VDZrBuVDgd48L_5a54gHezqiW_I/s1600/fg_driver_distraction_usecase2_scenarioa_600px.gif" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Giving a navigation maneuver priority over a social media status update message</i></span></b></span><br /><br />Often, I am asked how this effort differs from the <a href="http://www.mirrorlink.com/">MirrorLink</a> standard being developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium. The simple answer is that MirrorLink addresses only some of the use cases listed below. For instance, the scope of MirrorLink is limited to applications and services running on nomadic devices. Furthermore, adaptation of the driver-vehicle interface and external applications and services in the current MirrorLink solution uses a simple two-state approach, driving or not driving, which limits the ability of the vehicle to control the timing and modality of communications with the driver. Also, MirrorLink doesn’t adequately address arbitration or integration of communications with all external applications and services.<br /><br /><span style="color: #073763;"><b>In for the long haul</b></span><br />At QNX Software Systems, our aim is to:<br /><ol><li>Work with the relevant parties to identify solutions to the problem of technology-related driver distraction and workload. These parties include automotive, telecommunications, and consumer electronics organizations; standards development groups; academia; and government agencies.</li><li>Determine which aspects of the solution should be standardized, then help drive this standardization.</li><li>Align QNX product roadmaps as solutions develop.</li></ol>To be clear, this is a longer term strategy that will take years to realize. Both the standardization process and the time it takes to deploy technology in vehicles must be factored in. Therefore, we are also pursuing shorter term solutions, some of which I hope to cover in future posts.<br /><br /><span style="color: #073763;"><b>The end of the beginning</b></span><br />The first major milestone in this effort was achieved at the closing plenary of the ITU-T Study Group 12 meeting, held on March 28 in Geneva. Here, <a href="http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/distraction/Pages/default.aspx">the final report and 4 deliverables</a> of the ITU-T Focus Group on Driver Distraction were approved. There was also approval of a liaison statement communicating these results to a large list of organizations working on this topic.<br /><br />This marks the end of the focus group, but is really just the beginning for QNX and ITU-T efforts in this area. In future posts, I will explore various aspects of this comprehensive strategy.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><b><span style="color: #073763;">Use cases and user scenarios targeted by ITU-T recommendations</span></b><br /><br /><b>Use Case 1: Interaction with external application/service </b><br />   a) Application on nomadic device<br />   b) Application on cloud-based server <br />   c) Downloaded Application <br />   d) Broadcast of roadway information <br />   e) Tethering <br /><b>Use Case 2: Arbitration and integration of external message</b> <br />   a) Arbitration of messages <br />   b) Integration of messages <br />   c) Both arbitration and integration of messages <br />   d) E-call <br /><b>Use Case 3: Negotiation of network Quality of Service (QoS) </b><br />   a) Application selects network <br />   b) Application suspends interaction <br />   c) Application availability due to roaming <br /><b>Use Case 4: Management of multiple dialogues </b><br />   a) Opening/closing an application <br />   b) Switching between applications <br />   c) Interaction with background application <br /><b>Use Case 5: Adaptation of DVI (driver-vehicle interface) and external applications/services to driver abilities </b><br />   a) Driver with disability <br />   b) Dynamically changing driver capabilities <br />   c) Detection of impaired driver state <br /><b>Use Case 6: Adaptation of DVI and external applications/services to roadway situation </b><br />   a) Driver busy notification <br />   b) Delay of message delivery in demanding driving situation <br />   c) Change message format based on road conditions <br />   d) Interruption of driver interaction <br /><b>Use Case 7: Adaptation of DVI and external applications/services to vehicle status </b><br />   a) Vehicle enters safe operating condition (e.g., park gear, < 5 m.p.h., etc.) <br />   b) Driver adjusts vehicle controls (e.g., climate control, etc.) <br />   c) Suppression of hazard alert due to safe speed <br /><b>Use Case 8: Adaptation of DVI and external applications/services to local regulations </b><br />   a) Application blocked <br />   b) Application suspended <br />   c) Interface modality disabled <br />   d) Age restriction <br />   e) Content restriction <br /><br />For details on these use cases, download the <a href="http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/distraction/Documents/deliverables/FG%20Distraction%20-%20Report%20on%20Use%20Cases.pdf"><b>FG Distraction Use Cases report</b></a>. <br /><br />

Enabling drivers to interact safely with applications and services

Since February 2011, QNX Software Systems has been leading an international standards effort to help drivers interact safely with applicati...

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Using smartphones to prevent traffic jams

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI9R5JTdt8f_Ry79uqtwziv8H7RhE7h4-8jj5Fwvo5eMTii56luXWSbYBYEEXAHARqnLNh1faz_6U6_ZyEEMd7i8pWvCf8zs-ucTDpGkQhgXNcB9BJGaVuH5zZoto6kethLv8bdXLK_w/s1600/paul_leroux_photo_crop_v3_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI9R5JTdt8f_Ry79uqtwziv8H7RhE7h4-8jj5Fwvo5eMTii56luXWSbYBYEEXAHARqnLNh1faz_6U6_ZyEEMd7i8pWvCf8zs-ucTDpGkQhgXNcB9BJGaVuH5zZoto6kethLv8bdXLK_w/s1600/paul_leroux_photo_crop_v3_thumb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Paul Leroux</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Smartphones and driving don’t mix, right? Normally, you would get no argument from me. Driving is the one activity where a half-second lapse in attention can translate into a lifetime of regret. <br /><br />But you know, there’s more than one way to use a smartphone in a car. Take Honda, for example. They’ve been experimenting with an approach that may help prevent accidents, rather than cause them.<br /><br />Let’s rewind a bit. A few months ago, I wrote a post on the potential benefits of <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/2012/09/will-adaptive-cruise-control-spell-end.html">adaptive cruise control</a>. These benefits include a dramatic reduction of traffic congestion and safer distances between cars. <br /><br />Well, guess what: it seems that a smartphone app can have much the same effect. Recently, Honda equipped a number of drivers with an app that monitors acceleration and deceleration. When a subject drives in a way that avoids causing a traffic jam, the app screen turns green; otherwise, it shows blue.<br /><br />Simple enough, right? And yet, the results were dramatic: formation of traffic jams was delayed by up 6 minutes and fuel efficiency shot up by 22%. Not bad for a smartphone app.<br /><br />I am, of course, skipping a few details. Read more about the study in <a href="http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20130322/272512/"><b>Tech-On!</b></a>, an outlet of Nikkei Business Publications. <br /><br />

Using smartphones to prevent traffic jams

Paul Leroux Smartphones and driving don’t mix, right? Normally, you would get no argument from me. Driving is the one activity where a half-...

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