Forget about protecting the economy protecting the drunks from themselves is the newest form of defense. Thanks to Gmail’s new service called Mail Goggles those who make fools of themselves by sending e-mails while inebriated can now feel free to live in peace or debauchery.
If enabled this new feature made public on October 6th2008 will serve as a safeguard against drunk e-mailing by making the sender complete a series of simple math problems within 60 seconds. If the user is unable to complete the task in time he or she must try again in the morning. The extra time provides an opportunity for the user to rethink sending an e-mail to the cute guy from business class. They may instead send a “thank you” note to Jon Perlow Gmail engineer and creator of Mail Goggles.
The feature can be turned on in the “Labs” tab of one’s Gmail account and the user can select the days and times to activate it – or use the default which is Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. – along with the level of difficulty of the math problems.
Now that Google may have effectively eliminated drunk e-mailing what is next in the age of protectionism? A number of cell phone providers have already created programs to prevent drunk dialing.
In 2006 LG introduced the LP4100 cell phone which contains a built-in breathalyzer. If the user tests above the legal limit of the blood alcohol content (BAC) an animation of a swerving car appears suggesting that the user avoid operating an automobile. The phone can also be programmed to prevent the user from dialing certain numbers if he or she is above the legal limit of BAC.
In addition Virgin Mobile in Australia has a drunk-dialing prevention system that disallows certain pre-chosen numbers – like those belonging to ex-boyfriends and bosses – from being dialed until 6 a.m. the next day. These services have undoubtedly prevented potential embarrassment and humiliation on hundreds of occasions but this technology should be applied to automobiles more often. After all it is not just reputation on the line when alcohol gets in the way of good judgment. In 2007 there were 12998 fatalities caused by drunken drivers a number that constituted more than 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in that year according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Nissan and Volvo are both developing built-in breathalyzers with a system that will prevent the engine from turning on if the driver tests above the legal limit of BAC. Toyota is developing similar technology that will measure one’s BAC via sweat-sensors on the steering wheel.
Right now these systems are only required to be in cars of those who have been convicted of driving under the influence. As of 2006 there were 70000 breathalyzers installed into the cars of convicted drunken drivers.
Although this preventative device is costly to install it is possible to install it in new cars that have already been released on the market. The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are undertaking a research project called the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety which probes into the possibility of mandating built-in breathalyzer systems for every car. This project is being met with tough criticism from those who would rather have more personal freedom than safer roads.
It is car companies’ social responsibility to produce this type of life-saving technology. The resources being used to develop and promote protection services for “drunk e-mailing” and “drunk dialing” could have a stronger impact if they were used to save lives instead of save face.
Mail Goggles and other similar programs and services can certainly keep people from being fired and thwart embarrassing situations but it is ridiculous that people need this kind of preemptive protection from themselves. It is a testament to the state of society that these kinds of services are needed solely because people cannot keep themselves under control.
Not just the presence of these services but the actual demand for them is shameful. One hopes there will be a day when Mail Goggles is not necessary because people will be able to have fun without losing control. But until then: Thanks Google for protecting us from ourselves.