I’ve come up with a new app idea for the iPhone. Similar to Interlock devices for vehicles, this device will run in the background and prevent the user from accessing any other applications until passing a cognitive test. This app will double as a preventative measure for drunk-dialing or texting and for sleep-dialing or texting.
The other day I got a call from a room-mom reminding me that I volunteered to provide sandwich bags to my daughter’s class for the upcoming Valentine’s Day party. I quickly used my Siri app to make myself a reminder. I love Siri: I can get directions, movie times, book a taxi, tweet…all sorts of things. And the best part is I can either type in what I want or just speak it. “Remind me to pick up sandwich bags tonight at five o-clock PM.” Nice.
While putting in my reminder for the bags, I came across another reminder that I didn’t recall inputting: “Get gold coins from bank at 5:00 PM.”
Gold coins are the Tooth Fairy’s gift of choice in our house: something special but not expensive. And the gold coins are available at the bank and as change in my office’s vending machines, but only if I happen to have small bills on hand, which I never do.
So the reminder wasn’t totally strange. Except that my daughter hasn’t lost a tooth since before Christmas, and none of her remaining baby teeth are even remotely loose. And I’ve only been using Siri in the last few weeks. So, what gives?
I then remembered a dream I’d had the night before. Among other things, I’d dreamt that my daughter lost one of her molars. Molars that kids lose between ages 9 and 12. My daughter’s 6. In the dream, though, losing her molar made perfect sense.
The strange and scary thing is that I woke up, unlocked my phone, told Siri, “Get gold coins from bank at 5:00 PM” and went back to sleep! And the fact that Siri understood my sleep-slurred speech is just amazing!
But I shouldn’t have been able to do anything with my phone at who-knows-what-unGodly-hour.
So some developer needs to create a math or tongue-twister app that locks if you don’t get the answer right. Millions of reputations could be saved from the dreaded “drunk text,” or if you’re like me “sleep-slurred” usage of the iPhone.
You can read more of Michelle’s work here.
Photo property of Michelle Stillson
At least “Siri” doesn’t spit the reminders out verbally. Imagine being in an important meeting when it decides to remind you: “Get tampons at 5 p.m.!”
Ha ha! Or you’re on a date: “Pretend you got a text from BFF and ditch date if going badly.”
I am totally downloading the “Siri” app right now!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but there are already a bunch of apps that do this:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=app+to+lock+phone+prevent+drunk+dialing+texting
From those Google results, looks like you’re at least 2 years too late.
Joe,
Those apps are great for prevention of drunk calling! I might have to get that! However, I’d still be able to use other apps, like my bank apps; moving money across accounts when drunk or sleepy is NOT an optimal time!