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Google Glass might distract you from driving

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Google Glass has been called many things, from innovative new gadget to obnoxious and creepy device that is meant for people to spy on each other. Google Glass is a wearable device made up of a pair of glasses that have a prism incorporated which can project images directly on your retina. Google Glass is meant to be worn all day so that it can help you enjoy features close to augmented reality and to use the features of your smartphone without having to take it out. The main idea behind Google Glass is that it offers multimedia and connectivity right in front of your eyes. Even though many say that Google Glass is an affront to privacy because of the built-in camera, we have to admit that the gadget itself is a piece of advanced technology which will certainly end up being useful. There are other similar devices on the market already, and other currently in development, so Google Glass is not a unique device, albeit it is the most popular one.

Wearable devices like the Epson Moverio BT-200 glasses are a perfect example of a different approach to smart glasses. Whilst Google Glass aims to be a Siri- or Cortana like companion which can help you navigate, place calls, check messages, send messages and take photos and videos, the Epson Moverio BT-200 glasses focus more on augmented reality and are meant for special situations like gaming, controlling drones, reviewing engineering projects, navigating and checking product information. Another good example of smart glasses are the Funiki smart glasses, although they aren’t as advanced as Google Glass or the Epson Moverio glasses. The Funiki glasses only feature LED lights which alert you when you get notifications on your smartphone. Samsung is working on the Gear Blink smart glasses and Sony has been rumored to have smart glasses in development too, so we’re curious how the market will evolve in the future.

Google Glass has been ostracized by many because of its design and because of its $1500 price tag. We must keep in mind that the glasses are still in development, with timely updates rolling out a few times a year. Even though Google Glass has been developed for daily use and as a personal assistant, it seems that you won’t be able to wear them when you drive because they might be as distracting as using your phone. Many believed that Google Glass would have been an excellent driving companion if a navigation system were correctly developed and if you could use it instead of a Bluetooth headset in order to enjoy voice calls while you drive, but new information has revealed that the glasses might not work that way.

It turns out that even though you use voice commands in order to text with Google Glass, your brain is just as distracted as if it were using a smartphone. That’s because you still need to multitask while driving, so your brain might not be able to keep up with both driving and talking to Google Glass. The level of distraction with Google Glass impacts you the same way the level of distraction on a smartphone would when texting, so this means that you would be slower to react to traffic incidents or unexpected events ahead or behind you. With Google Glass, you would follow the cars in front of you more carefully, but you would still be slower to react than without the wearable device on your head.

Ultimately, even though Google Glass had the ambition of being a non-distractive device you could use while driving, one still shouldn’t use it, especially in urban areas. Even though some of you might be endowed with great multi-tasking capabilities, using smartphones or wearables whilst driving is still not a good idea. I’m sure you can agree that we all have a limited attention span and focus capabilities, and when those are being strained by multi-tasking, our reactions tend to slow down. For example, when you are typing a story or playing a game, and somebody starts talking to you, you hear them and acknowledge them, but your reaction time is much slower – you respond to them after a longer time than you would if you were just chilling out on your couch.

In conclusion. driving is a dangerous activity which requires your full concentration because you’re never alone on the road and even if you were, you never know when something might pop in front of your car. Since cars are comprised of many of the most dangerous materials to man such as gasoline, electricity, glass and metal, and run at high speeds, the probability of you getting hurt when driving is quite high. That’s why most advise the use of a Bluetooth headset for important calls while driving, and no texting whatsoever – no matter what device or what medium you are using to do it.

Do you think that you would be distracted if you were using Google Glass while driving or do you think you could handle it?

As part of the editorial team here at Geekreply, John spends a lot of his time making sure each article is up to snuff. That said, he also occasionally pens articles on the latest in Geek culture. From Gaming to Science, expect the latest news fast from John and team.

Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

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PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

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A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

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