Can a Car2Car Communication Device Reduce Road Rage?
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by: J. S. DiDonato
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Word Count: 723
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 Time: 4:52 PM
Can "Road Rage" really be reduced by a Car2Car texting device? Well that's what we set out to see when we interviewed a company spokesperson for BogusBoxes.com In our interview, the company seemed to think that they had an answer to the growing problem of road rage. They said that their new gag gift box shows a device that could reduce road rage - if it really existed. It's a Car2Car texting device, that works via a person's smartphone to send text messages to other drivers through a device that mounts in the rear car window. So the big question we asked was, "why design the box if the product doesn't exist?" A spokesperson for the company said that they thought that the box was usable for gift giving, but that they really didn't want to go through the hassle of actually producing it." The spokesperson went on to say that building it would have required "tons of work" on their part. Supposedly, they would have had to get the electronic components made in China, arrange to get the units assembled in Mexico, and then find some sweat shop in New York City or Los Angeles to actually ship the product. They also mentioned that potential legal liability would be high, especially if drivers accidentally texted 'WTF' to a car full of armed gang members. The company said that they still stand behind their box as a way to re-gift unwanted gifts, or simply to cloak a cheap item that was found in a bargain bin. They said that the box might even serve a secondary purpose when given to some "loud-mouthed relative" who was constantly yelling obscenities to and flipping off other drivers. They claimed that the fake gift box would be a subtle reminder to obnoxious friends or family members that they should tone down their "personal rage index" when on the road. When asked if they thought the gag gift box could be held up to the window instead of flipping off other drivers, the company spokesperson said that they didn't have any data on that particular tactic. The company did claim that tailgaters, horn honkers, and light flashers would all be easily repelled by simply texting an appropriate message like 'WTF' or 'OMG' through the device. The company went on to suggest that there was also a more positive side to the device. They claimed that such a device, if real, could help set up romantic meetings if an 'ILY' text was sent to a good-looking driver in another car. The company pointed out that an optional device upgrade could not only show hand gestures, but could also show a picture of a telephone, with a scrolling telephone number to call for setting up a date. When we studied the box, we noted that the product was designed with rotating suction cups to allow for installation on the outside of special vehicles. The examples used on the box included Walmart mobility shopping carts, horse drawn carriages in Pennsylvania, slow-moving farm equipment in the mid-west, and even metal office cubicles. The box also included a list of the most commonly used text messages on the back of the box for reference. The list contains several useful Car2Car text messages like 'BCNU' and 'L8R,' as well as courtesy text messages like 'THX!' for occasionally showing gratitude. In summary, we would strongly caution users that some text messages might actually infuriate other drivers. On the company's website, they said that they hadn't established whether all of the text messages on the back of the box would have the same meaning in other languages. The company said that they were planning to deal with other languages in the next release of their gag gift box, and invited those people who would like to suggest Asian, South American, Canadian, or other culturally-based text messages, to do so on their company's blog. When we asked where the boxes were made, the company said that the boxes are printed and shipped in the US, and that their printer certified that the reclaimed paper stock wasn't originally from a rain forest. On that positive note, we tabled our remaining questions for another interview that will deal with their latest device, the PetCAM360. The company's website is http://www.BogusBoxes.com.
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