Google Glass provides a hands-free way for drivers to access information, potentially reducing distractions compared to smartphone usage. An experiment indicated that while Google Glass users could recover from near-accidents faster, they still required attention that made driving and texting unsafe. Overall, while it helps to keep eyes on the road, using Google Glass for texting while driving remains unwise.

1. Google Glass and Driving Safety

2. Long before the invention of the portable
phone and our growing dependence on the
information it provides quickly to us, we
have suffered from numerous distractions
while on the road.

3. CD players, radios, items dropped on the
floor, food, and other people have plagued
drivers for decades when it comes to driving
with divided attention. Can Google Glass
help?

4. Driving Safety with New Technology

5. In part to help to solve this problem, Google
has now graced the driving world with the
creation of Google Glass.

6. The frame is rather thin and sports a small
screen on the right lens that can bring
information to you completely hands free.

7. Although it doesn't require your hands to
use, Google Glass still requires some of your
attention in order to give it commands on
what you want it to do.

8. Your eyes are still diverted even though you
aren't looking at a phone.

9. Instead of looking down at your hand, you
are instead looking up and to the right to see
the screen on the glass.

10. Does Google Glass Reduce Driver
Distraction?

11. Ben Sawyer, a Psychological researcher at
the University of Central Florida, conducted
an experiment to see just how similar texting
on a phone and texting using Google Glass
were, when it came to distracting drivers.

12. Driving Safety Survey

13. Forty people of various ages and texting
expertise participated in the study.

14. Driving a simulator while being subjected to
sudden braking, the drivers were instructed
to text about a math problem either using
Google Glass or a smart phone.

15. While Google Glass users recovered from near-
accidents and were able to safely recover from a
potentially dangerous situation faster, smart
phone users tended to leave more space between
them and the car in front of them which provider
more of a safety cushion.

16. All in all, Google Glass allows drivers to keep
their eyes up while driving, but its use still
requires enough of your attention to make
driving and texting an unwise and unsafe
activity.