Free Essay

Texting While Driving: We'Re Really Bad at It, but We Think We'Re Good

In: Historical Events

Submitted By candy12
Words 424
Pages 2
Think you're pretty good at texting while driving? According to a new study, you have no idea how bad you actually are. Researchers at Ohio State University asked college kids to complete two visual tasks similar to driving and texting, and compared their performance with students attempting one audio and one visual task similar to talking on the phone while driving. The texters not only performed worse than the talkers—no surprise—but they also rated their performance better.

"Many people have this overconfidence in how well they can multitask, and our study shows that this particularly is the case when they combine two visual tasks," says Zheng Wang, lead author on the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State. The results are in line with previous work that suggest that drivers overestimate their ability to multitask.

The participants attempting two visual tasks had to complete a pattern-matching puzzle on a computer screen while typing walking directions to a person over Google Chat, an instant-messaging (IM) system. Students were told the person needing directions was another student named Jennifer. The students tasked with the combined audio and visual tasks had to complete the same computer puzzle while verbally giving directions to Jennifer using Google Talk, a voice chat system. The students were also asked to do the computer puzzle with no distractions.

The two multitasking scenarios can be compared to what drivers face, says Wang. People who text while driving are combining two mostly visual tasks, and people who talk while driving are combining audio and visual tasks.

The results showed that multitasking of either kind—audio or visual—seriously hurt performance. Participants who gave audio directions showed a 30 percent drop in performance on the pattern-matching puzzle. But those who typed directions did even worse: a 50 percent drop in performance. "They're both dangerous, but...texting is more dangerous while driving than talking on the phone, which is not a surprise," says Wang.

What is alarming is that when participants were asked to rate how well they performed, those who typed directions gave themselves higher ratings than those who gave verbal directions.

"It may be that those using IM felt more in control because they could respond when they wanted without being hurried by a voice in their ears," Wang said. "Also, processing several streams of information in the visual channel may give people the illusion of efficiency. They may perceive visual tasks as relatively effortless, which may explain the tendency to combine tasks like driving and textin

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Fasc

...These aren’t rules you MUST follow dude… Because you don’t have to use ALL my examples of what to text a girl to GET the girl. Just experiment, see what works best for you, and keep doing what works. And secretly? I want to show you WHY all of these examples work so well, so you can invent many more yourself and become a rock star of texting girls. But more on that later… Let’s check out some examples of what to text a girl already! What To Text A Girl When You’ve Just Met Her When you’ve just met her it’s important to keep the attraction going. To keep her interested. What does that mean when it comes to what to text a girl? It means challenging her, teasing her, being picky, being mysterious, being hard to get, being dominant… and the list of things you can do via text to keep her interested goes on and on. Let’s see what to text a girl to keep her interested is all about… 1. “Hey you. Yeah YOU! Can you keep a secret?” Of course when you text a girl like this she’ll be curious and say “YES” and ask why, after which you’ll say: “Don’t tell anyone, but I met this insanely cute girl the other day. Her name is NAME OF THE GIRL YOU’RE TEXTING. It was a shame she didn’t have bigger boobs though.” Now THAT is a great example of what to text a girl if you want to tease her. Don’t look at me that way man. This works because you’ll be one of the few guys who’s not impressed with an attractive girl’s looks and kissing her ass....

Words: 4113 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Unit 5

...grid? When it comes to smart grids, being aware of the amount of energy you use in a household is important to remember. It would definitely help manage the amount of power used every month and allow consumers to make more intelligent decisions regarding it. The organization that should be considered is allowing the consumers to access information about their usage of energy consumption and production every month. This is where the technology comes into play. You shouldn’t want an outdated and inefficient infrastructure. Going digital, just like the smart grids are, would be good to do. Having fast technology that is reliable and quick enough for the consumers to use will build satisfaction in the business and help out a lot. 3. What challenge to the development of smart grids do you think is most likely to hamper their development? Installing smart grids are very expensive. We have economic problems we have in our country now, which will make consumers more skeptical about installing smart grids for their household. Not only that, but the smart grids are very high in technology and can be challenging for consumers to understand it and respond to the price signals. If they spend $250-$500 on these grids, and don’t know how...

Words: 2332 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Social Networking

... A Report By: Blake Hogan, Emily Gilbert, Megan Leckington, and Chris Morris 1 Abstract: In today’s day and age, most everyone in our society has and uses a cell phone. Most of those who use cell phones also use the SMS text messaging that these phones feature. This study takes a look at some of the effects and potential problems arising from the use of this text messaging. A survey of students and instructors at Lane Community College found that 70% of those surveyed believed that texting had harmful effects on students writing skills. However, studies that were analyzed found that texting is actually beneficial. While 54% of teenagers text others on a daily basis only 33% of teenagers talk to others face-to-face, yet it is too early in research to draw a conclusion on whether texting is harmful to their social skills. Most people know that text messaging while driving is very dangerous, yet the studies analyzed as well as the surveys conducted show that some people are still willing to take that risk. Table of Contents: Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….1 Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….1 List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………...1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..2 Methodology……………………………………………………………………………….2 Participants………………………………………………………………………………...2 Results…………………………………………………………………………………..3-18 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………...

Words: 8499 - Pages: 34

Premium Essay

Social Network

...to increased distractibility, anxiety, depression and apathy. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a very real feeling thats starting to permeate through teens social relationships. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are making this increasingly more difficult for a teen to avoid. Teens can quickly become self-absorbed in a superficial online world. As a direct result, they crave affirmations from their peers in the form of likes, favorites, shares, retweets, reblogs, and revines. They can even start to feel irrelevant without loads of social media attention. Teens who have trouble connecting face to face may depend on the Internet as a place where they feel understood by their peers and use it as a replacement for social interaction. While they might use social networking sites to connect with others, spending too much...

Words: 5658 - Pages: 23

Free Essay

Focus

...process. It would be much worse without their wonderful help. dedication The book is dedicated to my grandfather, Joe Murphy, who lived a life that inspired me, and whose death has left a gap in my life ... and to my grandmother, Marianne Murphy, who I love deeply and whose strength and kindness have always pointed the way for me. uncopyright All content of this book are in the public domain. I hereby waive all claim of copyright in this work; it may be used or altered in any manner without attribution or notice to the me. Attribution, of course, is appreciated. To clarify, I’m granting full permission to use any content on this site, including the chapters of my book, in any way you like. I release my copyright on this content. While you are under no obligation to do so, I would appreciate it if you give me credit for any work of mine that you use, and ideally, link back to the original. If you feel like spreading a copy of this book, you may do so without payment. 2 full version This is the free version of this ebook, which can also be found at focusmanifesto.com. The full version of the ebook contains additional chapters: 1. creativity and practicing deep focus 2. finding stillness and reflection 3. how to start changes on a broader level 4. overcome the fears that stop you from focusing, by Gail Brenner 5. how to create a minimalist workspace to find focus, by Everett Bogue 6. how to take a digital sabbatical, by Gwen Bell 7. life lessons from tea rituals,...

Words: 29269 - Pages: 118

Premium Essay

The Effects of Jejemon Phenomenon in Language Proficiency

...historical background of the jejemon language, the significance of the study that states why and to whom this study is beneficial, the statement of purpose that identifies the objectives of this research study, the statement of the problem that consists of the problems that this study is covering to answer and the scope and limitation that enumerates the extent of this research study. A. Introduction Language is very important in our life. It is used to express our thoughts and ideas to communicate with others. In this modern era, language changes constantly. The language that we use today is getting wider and wider. Nowadays, we use technology like cellphones and computers to convey our messages and through these, people are learning on how to cope up and change the way they convey their thoughts and ideas in different forms. Indeed, English proficiency is one of the important things that we need to practice. The proper usage of both Filipino and English language is one of the important aspects of Philippine education. Correct grammar, syntax and pronunciation are the main concerns of improving our language proficiency to maintain an effective communication locally and internationally, but due to the continuous development of language, the emergence of Jejemon words became a phenomenon in the Philippines especially on its online breakthrough on April 14, 2010 at Pinoy Tumblr. Jejemons are persons who use jumbled letters, alternating capitalization, rearranging letters...

Words: 11283 - Pages: 46

Premium Essay

When the Moon Howls

...you new class schedule, I have also assigned a buddy to help you get around the school." Before I know what's happening I'm out the office and facing a boy a little taller than me. "Hey." Man I'm awkward around new people, he doesn't look up as he whispers a small hello and walks off. I run after him and silently follow into a class room, he sits down and I get the feeling he doesn't like me. Too bad, the only open seat is next to him, I walk over and the teacher starts talking about random stuff. As the teachers going on and on I decide its best to at least have my 'buddy' half like me, so I write a note and slide it over to him, luckily he has a look and writes back. Me: what's your name? Him: Ben, yours? Me: Scarlet. Him: like red. Me: yeah, call me red if you want. Him: really? Cool, hey red. Me: hey Ben. Have I done anything wrong or offended you in any way? Him: no, why? Me: you looked like you didn't want to know me back there. Him: well, I thought you wouldn’t want to know me. I'm not really Mr popular. Me: who wants Mr popular? I want an awesome friend. I think you might be it :) Him:...

Words: 64377 - Pages: 258

Premium Essay

Smartphones Effects

...Running Head: SMARTPHONES AND THEIR EFFECT ON OUR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS Smartphones and their Effect on our Social Interactions Ashley L****** NMCC Abstract We walk through this world with our heads down. Immersed in the technological realm, we disregard the real. We converse with our hands rather than our mouths, tapping keyboards and touchpads to the rhythm of our thoughts. This is the way we communicate in the 21st century. In the last decade, advances in information technologies have substantially altered the way humans interact. Between email, texting, social networking, instant messaging, and Skype, people now have the resources that would make it possible to spend days or months without coming face-to-face with another person, yet still remain connected with the world. I love my smartphone. I am in awe at just how much phones have advanced in the last 20 years. From the first one that was gigantic in size, then leading to a smaller simple flip phone to these beautiful, amazing slim pieces of hardware that can do more than I could have ever imagined a phone doing. Smartphones are something to be amazed with. Smartphones can certainly make our lives easier for us as we use them for everyday tasks such as communicating, checking our calendars, using as alarm clocks, as calculators, setting reminders and so much more. However, as smartphones keep advancing with new ways to make our lives easier, are they hindering our natural need for social...

Words: 3333 - Pages: 14

Free Essay

Asdasd

...THE LORIEN SIX, WHO REMAIN IN HIDING. OTHER CIVILIZATIONS DO EXIST. SOME OF THEM SEEK TO DESTROY YOU. Chapter One MY NAME IS MARINA, AS OF THE SEA, BUT I WASN’T called that until much later. In the beginning I was known merely as Seven, one of the nine surviving Garde from the planet Lorien, the fate of which was, and still is, left in our hands. Those of us who aren’t lost. Those of us still alive. I was six when we landed. When the ship jolted to a halt on Earth, even at my young age I sensed how much was at stake for us—nine Cêpan, nine Garde— and that our only chance waited for us here. We had entered the planet’s atmosphere in the midst of a storm of our own creation, and as our feet found Earth for the very first time, I remember the wisps of steam that rolled off the ship and the goose bumps that covered my arms. I hadn’t felt the wind in a year, and it was freezing outside. Somebody was there waiting for us. I don’t know who he was, only that he handed each Cêpan two sets of clothes and a large envelope. I still don’t know what was in it. As a group we huddled...

Words: 92460 - Pages: 370

Free Essay

Gone Girl

...THIS SCRIPT MAY BE PERFORMED, PUBLISHED, REPRODUCED, SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED BY ANY MEANS, OR QUOTED OR PUBLISHED IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING ON ANY WEB SITE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION. DISPOSAL OF THIS SCRIPT COPY DOES NOT ALTER ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE. GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn Based on the Novel By Gillian Flynn Yellow Revised Pink Revised Blue Script White Script — - 9/27/13 9/15/13 8/29/13 7/30/13 Al BLACK SCREEN NICK (V.0.) When I think of my wife, I always think of her head. FADE IN: INT. BEDROOM SOMETIME Al - We see the back of AMY DUNNE’S HEAD, resting on a pillow. NICK (V.0.) I picture cracking her lovely skull, unspooling her brain, Nick runs his fingers into Amy’s hair. NICK (V.0.) Trying to get answers. He twirls and twirls a lock, a screw tightening. NICK (V.0.) The primal questions of a marriage: What are you thinking? How are you feeling? What have we done to each other? AMY wakes, turns, gives a look of alarm. * BLACK SCREEN 2 EXT. NORTH CARTHAGE MORNING 2 - A carved faux-marble entry—reading FOREST GLEN—ushers us into a ruined HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. Mostly VACANT houses. A few Fourth of July decorations hang in windows. A weird, BUCOLIC air: swaying grasses, stray wildlife. 3 EXT. NICK DUNNE’S FRONT YARD TITLE CARD: JULY 5th, 2012 THE MORNING OF NICK DUNNE, 30s, handsome, is taking out the trash; his yard is the only one mowed—all around him WILDERNESS...

Words: 32067 - Pages: 129

Free Essay

Qwert

...Electronic Devices Can Be an Educational Curse or Blessing I thought I had seen everything after watching middle school kids text-messaging during the funeral of one of my high school students. Then, our school had its first play in three years. Throughout the audience, parents' faces were aglow as they text-messaged throughout their children's performances. Mostly, I was a bear about electronic devices in class. Even during the worst of our school's gang-related violence, my students kept their cell phones out of sight and usually out of mind. Periodically, though, we would be working and I would see several students start to sneak a peak at their phones. Then we would hear shouting in classrooms and the halls and there would be a stampede of students, including mine, to a fight. I also saw the same thing in the gym. I would be playing ball with my students during my planning period and, all of a sudden, students from across the school and adults from the neighborhood would rush towards a brawl. Had our school been able to prevent abuses of the new technology, I believe, another of my former students would be alive today. On the other hand, when students needed to take a call during class, they knew I would not question their word. If a student asked to step outside to answer their phone, my response was "of course." If a kid made simple eye contact and pointed to a phone, I would just nod, and the student would handle business and then return to work. One year, I had such...

Words: 9266 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Leadership

...Leadership Learnings From Bloggers 2008 Edition Leadership Learnings from Bloggers 2008 Edition Released February 2009 Aggregated and produced by Exponential Media, a Division of Exponential Network Leadership Learnings from Bloggers is a collection of blog posts on leadership from over 20 national leaders / bloggers. Disclaimer In selecting the 20+ bloggers for this resource, we choose leaders with experience on the front lines. However, Exponential Network makes no warranties or representations regarding the accuracy, validity or originality of each blogger’s content. Exponential Network is serving as an aggregator of leading bloggers and does not necessarily agree with the opinions and beliefs represented in individual posts. We’ve attempted to include their content verbatim from their web sites except for obvious typographical errors. Statement of Copyright The individual posts in this eBook are the copyright of each author. These authors have agreed to make the aggregation of these posts available free of charge via this eBook. The following conditions apply to the use of this free eBook resource: Share. Just as the authors are sharing this eBook with you, you may copy, distribute and transmit the work to others. Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by each blog post author (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes for financial...

Words: 119475 - Pages: 478

Free Essay

Unit 4

...discuss Business Communication, there’s a lot of different kind of communication. The company I’ve used in this unit is Scotch & Soda, Scotch & Soda is a Dutch brand created since 1985. The company does not believe in target groups, but just does his best to keep it simple. They want to create products that look good, good quality and also contemporary and affordable. The clothing must do according to the word Scotch & Soda. Scotch & Soda currently consists of 3 lines; Scotch & Soda for men, for women Maison Scotch and Scotch Shrunk for young boys. From January 2011 there will also be a line for young girls launched called Scotch R'Belle. The Dutch brand now distributes to 31 countries worldwide. Scotch & Soda is a unique concept and that radiates the store too. It is a true experience, the recognizable scent, which is too smell of feet away, is characteristic of Scotch & Soda. The Persian rugs trigger of the store, are characteristic. The various departments of the store (men, women and children) are all designed differently, but they do form a whole together. I’ve chosen this company because I like their clothes and I think it’s the best Dutch fashion brand of all time. DIFFERENT TYPES...

Words: 7875 - Pages: 32

Premium Essay

Presentation Secret of Steve Jobs

...com New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2010 by Carmine Gallo. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-07-163675-9 MHID: 0-07-163675-7 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-163608-7, MHID: 0-07-163608-0. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs. To contact a representative please e-mail us at bulksales@mcgraw-hill.com. TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work. Use of this work is subject to these terms. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you...

Words: 72152 - Pages: 289

Premium Essay

Nike

...coursework with their futures, they do not value what they are being taught and spend their time elsewhere. Simply getting a good grade is rarely enough. Students want to know that what they are learning is important and applicable to the job they seek. This assignment showed us how our course concepts can be applied in real life and how important they are. By asking managers about real-life situations, we discovered that the things we are learning in Management 386 are not random, useless facts, but important elements of the workplace. This assignment also forced us to go beyond memorizing definitions; it forced us to really understand what we were learning about, and to solidify concepts in our minds. Simple memorization does not stick in one’s mind very long, but a thorough understanding can last a lifetime. Furthermore, this assignment (which was larger and more complex than the others) really tested our ability to coordinate and work together. It was a project that we could not have completed individually. The amount of necessary work would have been too much for a single person. But together, we were able to share the burden and discover better ways of working as a team. We learned a lot over the course of this assignment, and although we couldn’t have said this before or during the assignment, as we look back on it, we are glad we did it. We’re certain that the learning points;...

Words: 6815 - Pages: 28