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Science Quickly

"Textalyzer" Aims at Deadly Distracted Driving

Science Quickly

Scientific American

Science

4.2639 Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2017

⏱️ 2 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A new device promises to tell police when a driver has been sending messages while behind the wheel, but is it legal? Larry Greenemeier reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Understanding the human body is a team effort. That's where the Yachtel group comes in.

0:05.8

Researchers at Yachtolt have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years.

0:11.0

Yacold also partners with nature portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the global grants for gut health, an investigator-led research program.

0:19.6

To learn more about Yachtolt, visit yawcult.co.j.p.

0:23.9

That's y-A-K-U-L-T.C-O.J-P.

0:28.4

When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yacolt.

0:33.9

This is Scientific American's 60-second science.

0:37.0

I'm Larry Greenmire.

0:38.7

50 years ago, British inventors made and marketed the first electronic breathalyzer.

0:44.3

The alcohol gauge has become standard issue for a U.S. law enforcement cracking down on drunk driving.

0:50.0

In a sign of the times, U.S. police are now hoping to enlist the so-called textilizer.

0:56.0

The device in development by a company called Cellbrite plugs into a driver's smartphone

1:00.8

and can tell police whether that person sent a text, email, or some other type of electronic message.

1:06.7

Much of this information could be found by checking the device's call log and messaging apps,

1:10.8

but the textilizer aggregates all of that information could be found by checking the device's call log and messaging apps,

1:14.8

but the textilizer aggregates all of that information in one place.

1:20.3

Sending or reading a text typically takes a driver's eyes off the road for about five seconds.

1:26.4

At 55 miles per hour, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed,

1:27.9

according to the U.S.

1:35.7

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA reports that in 2015, nearly 3,500 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving drivers who were

1:41.3

talking on the phone or texting. But several open questions remain related to the textilizer.

1:47.0

For one, it's not clear how officers will access a device if its password protected.

...

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