New voice-control device for phones can make driving safer

It’s a good bet that you know someone who got in a traffic accident because someone was fiddling with their mobile phone.

It’s tempting to send text messages, read email, get driving directions or play a particular song while you’re driving. So tempting, in fact, that more than 1,000 people are injured each day in accidents that involve distracted drivers.

Maybe some new technology can help us keep our minds on the road. A company called iCreation has developed speeC-EZ, a small portable device that lets you control all of your phone’s functions with your voice. Instead of pressing a button to launch voice control, the speeC-EZ turns on hands-free control when a user says “Hello iCreation.”

Using speeC-EZ, drivers can send and receive text messages, make and receive calls, send or receive emails, get navigation directions and play music. The device uses a noise-canceling microphone to listed for commands and it has a speaker that improves sound quality compared to mobile phone speakers.

The speeC-EZ is the subject of a current fundraising campaign on Kickstarter where iConnect hopes to raise $50,000 to start producing the devices.

Backers who pledge $30 or more will be in line to get one of the first units when then they ship this fall. More details are available on the speeC-EZ website.

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Written by Ric Manning

Follow me on Twitter @ricmanning and read my technology columns at My Well Being.