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Domain: ergoweb.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to ergoweb.com.

Comments · 8

  1. Re:I don't see the point of texting while driving? by gfxguy · · Score: 1 · on 25% of Car Accidents Linked to Gadget Use

    Hands free is not good enough. The major problem is not that you're holding the phone, it's that your mind is on the call instead of the road - you're not distracted because you're holding something with your hand, you're distracted because you're concentrating on the call, and for a lot of reasons it's more distracting than merely having someone in the car that you're talking to.

    Source: Study: More Dangerous to Drive on Cell Phone than Chat with Passenger

    Before you say you're capable of multi-tasking, see what's currently the first post (scores of 1+): Here come the "But not special *ME*!" posts.

    Source: Hands-free phones no safer than hand-held: US study

    Honesly, what's worse - holding a beverage cup in your hand and taking the occasional sip, or talking to someone on the phone, hands free or not? It's the mental distraction, not the physical one... you need to pay attention to the road, and hands free doesn't help you do that.

  2. Re:I will laugh when ATT's network collapses by shoemilk · · Score: 1 · on Why AT&T Should Dump the iPhone's Unlimited Data Plan

    Ah, I see where you've gone off now. You don't seem to understand the concept of Nonverbal Communication. This is why the person being in the car is completely different to bluetooth. You know when you go around a curve too fast and someone grabs the "Oh Shit!" handle? Or the sensation you get when someone tenses up beside you because some moron ran the red light and is about to slam into you? These are clues that cut the conversation short with a live person. On bluetooth, they just keep talking through your crash.

    As to where your flight analogy fails is that the tower is watching you. They are looking at you, giving you clearance (telling you that they've looked around and it's ok) for you to land. The person on the other end of your bluetooth isn't looking at you telling you that no one is trying to speed through that red light.

    Another instance where your analogy fails is that (you've admitted) the hardest part of flying is take off and landing (despite this, you yourself admit that people still crash because of wireless communication). You know it's hard and you know you have to concentrate. Driving through and intersection is the most dangerous (as in where most accidents occur) part of driving, but I guarantee that no one pays any more attention then.

    Try this, next time you go flying, when you're landing, start hitting on the control tower while you try to land.

    Handsfree is not safe. Your protests sound like the protests of people who were against seat-belts "They're more a danger than anything. I can brace myself on the dash." or people against DUI "I drive better drunk/ stoned because I have to pay more attention."

  3. Re:Stop being such pussies. by Hunter0000 · · Score: 4, Informative · on US Agency Blocked Cellphone / Driving Safety Study

    There is no difference between having a cell phone conversation while driving and having a conversation with the guy/gal in the seat next to you, unless you somehow drop the handset...

    Bullshit. Since you obviously lack the common sense to figure this out from experience, here is was 30 seconds with Google will tell you. http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/xap144-drews.pdf http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2293 http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/HFES2004-000597-1.pdf

  4. You bet your life by NicknamesAreStupid · · Score: 4, Interesting · on The Dangers of Being Really, Really Tired

    I guess this is something to think about when you are being wheeled into the emergency room and meet your doctor who has been up for 30 hours. See http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=1190.

  5. Re:Really useful? by PitaBred · · Score: 2, Insightful · on New CASMOBOT Lawnmower Controlled By a Wiimote

    This is for industrial mowers. Not your lawn. Think more like the mowers for sports stadiums or parks or fields. Those are very noisy, and the constant vibration can be unhealthy. I'm all for it.

  6. Re:lawsuits... by EvanED · · Score: 1 · on Amazon Launches "Frustration-Free Packaging"

    How many people are injured every day by packaging?

    According to this article, about 200,000 in 2001. (That's about 550/day.)

    Colbert had a great but brief segment a while back (0:55).

  7. Re:Can they detect how pissed off i am? by qbwiz · · Score: 3, Interesting · on Microsoft's Acoustic Caller ID Patent

    It could be true, too.

  8. Try an inflatable fitness ball as a chair by Optic7 · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Do Ergonomic Chairs Really Work?
    I read this tip somewhere on the net and tried it out. I liked it, but do yourself a favor and get an anti-burst model as it's just a few bucks more than a burstable model. I had the latter type and when my cat decided to jump up on my lap I ended up flat on my ass with a twisted knee. Another thing about it is that if anyone else would be using it, the ball would have to be the proper size for them too (they come in about three sizes, according to your height).

    I did a quick search on the net for info to point you to, but I ended up finding an article recommending against it. I would still try it to see what you think, because I think the article is exaggerating the whole "instability" angle. They also have ads for what look like super expensive ergonomic chairs, so I wonder if there's any connection there. Anyway, it appears that that website also has an ergonomics forum, so you may want to ask the same question there.