My new smartwatch nearly got me in a car crash on the I-5

I was driving home from Seattle last week when my fitness tracker buzzed with a 'high heart rate' alert. I glanced down for maybe two seconds to check the screen, but that was enough to miss the truck ahead braking hard. Had to swerve onto the shoulder. Has anyone else had a gadget's safety feature actually create a dangerous distraction?

2 comments

2 Comments

amymason6d ago

That "high heart rate alert" is such a good point. It's supposed to be a safety feature, but it demands your attention right now. Do you think the real problem is that these devices can't tell the difference between a workout heart rate and a stressful drive? They just buzz for everything.

mason.cole6d ago

Yeah, the "buzz for everything" part is so true. It's like my watch freaks out when I'm just rushing to catch a train, but stays silent when I'm actually pushing hard on a run. The tech needs to learn context, like using motion sensors to see if you're moving or still. Otherwise it's just another annoying alarm that makes you more stressed, which kinda defeats the whole point lol.