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| Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan |
If
you have recently walked into a public restroom in Michigan (USA) and
heard a voice talking to you from down below, questioning whether you’ve
drunk too much, don’t be too alarmed; you have not been followed in
there by an angry-yet-cautious dwarf. No, instead you may have stumbled
into one of many toilets which are using motion-sensitive urinal cakes
in their fight against the huge number of people deciding to drink and
drive.The effort hopes to get people talking about the issue of driving
while intoxicated, so they become aware of their own behaviour after
having had a few drinks. Often it is hard to measure one’s state of
inebriation as alcohol numbs our sense of self-perception as well as our
ability perceive others and our surroundings properly.
It
seems to have been quite a success, with drink-driving becoming a major
discussion point in the area, particularly in bars when men have exited
the toilet and been confronted with the voice asking them if they are
in a fit state to make their way home. Originally, the idea was to curb
the amount of people caught drink driving but
now with this new application of motion technology, how else can it be
used, and what other gadgets could we see utilised on an average night
out?
- First of all, a female alternative would need to be made; they could very well drive while under the influence, though statistics show that more men are pulled over than women for such offences. Perhaps a lipstick that works like a breathaliser would detect high alcohol levels when women go to the bathroom to touch up their make-up? Perhaps it could work by measuring the accuracy of their application of makeup as a measure of how much they’ve had to drink? Alternatively, how about special heels that use motion sensors to detect too much wobbling and advise the user that they ought to sit down or seek assistance?
- Already there are IV treatments available which can replenish one’s system in just forty minutes and counter the effects of a hangover. While this requires a needle to be inserted intravenously, there is no certainty that this process can’t be improved to the point whereby you could enter a chamber for a few minutes on your out of the club/bar/pub and be “rejuvenated” either through vapours inhalation, a booster shot or some other method. While it would be a waste to have spent so much on alcohol just hours earlier to reverse the effects so quickly, it might help those who have already had too much partying.
- At Google IO 2012, Google+ was introduced; a pair of glasses which would negate any need for a computer or mobile device. On it would you be able to do everything you could do with a smartphone, such as sending or receiving calls, messages, interact via social media, search etc, through a headset and it would appear in front of you. Combined with our culture’s ever-growing need to self-document and track ourselves and others (whether through intense CCTV presence, or Google Latitude), you could record a whole night out from your viewpoint in the future. No need to spend the next day struggling to remember what you did or who you spoke to, and no more looking for your keys or wallet which you’ve lost; you would simply rewind and play back everything you witnessed., if you can bear it.
- Transportation has long been one of the Holy Grails of science; the ability to transfer material from one place to another. It would certainly be better than risking driving yourself home, or waiting ages for a taxi. The only thing now, is there would be a big queue to the teleportation chamber, and possibly someone would need to be on hand to clean up due to the nauseating effects of such a practice, mixed with vodka.
- A wristwatch that monitors your blood pressure, so that if alone and it falls beneath a certain level, an alarm alerts the nearest authorities that you may be in need of attention. If you are in a horizontal position for longer than 5 minutes, a sonar barrier is put around you, which if crossed, emits a piercing sound to ward off someone from taking advantage of those who have fallen asleep before making it home.
About the author:
Paul has been working alongside a firm of drink driving solicitors to
work on new ways to inform the public about the dangers of driving
while intoxicated, and the ways one can monitor themselves and avoid
legal action against them and harm to others. This has included keeping
up to date with new technological developments which could aid this
fight. In his spare time, Paul is a big fan of social media, currently
managing the account of several companies and businesses, to try and
raise their profile online, as well as providing other digital marketing
needs.
