Smart jammers can adjust output through algorithms

The use of cell phone jammers has raised public safety concerns. Low-powered GPS jammers can disrupt signals within a range of nine meters, while more advanced versions can block all transmissions within the size of a soccer ball. Clearly, these jammers pose a significant safety risk.

But what if jamming technology could be implemented at a smaller scale, just a few centimeters from the steering wheel? Would that be enough to prevent driver distraction without affecting surrounding vehicles or other passengers in the car? Furthermore, could the technology be developed to avoid interfering with medical devices such as pacemakers or insulin pumps, as well as streaming music services? Most importantly, what happens when a police or emergency call is not properly handled?

According to Todd Humphreys, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, it is indeed possible. By properly calibrating a jammer, it can create a protected area near the steering wheel for the driver’s phone, rendering it unusable, without significantly affecting the availability of cell phone signals for passengers. The jammer can use algorithms to adjust its output based on changes in signal strength while driving, maintaining a constant jamming field.

However, there is always the human factor to consider. Humphreys correctly points out that some drivers may avoid the jamming zone by placing their phones farther away or against their seats, which could lead to more dangerous situations. T. Charles Clancy, executive director of the Hume and Time Center for National Security at Virginia Tech, has a similar view. He believes that if drivers want to text while driving, they will find ways to overcome jamming technology.

A. Lee Swindlehurst, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Irvine, believes that drivers will find ways to use their phones no matter where they place them. He believes that it is technically possible to design a system that only blocks the driver’s device from functioning, but it will be a challenging task.

Perhaps another approach would be to equip phones with devices that detect motion or monitor the user’s eye movements. If these sensors and cameras detect dangerous behavior such as texting while driving, the phone could automatically disable the texting function. Marwan Krunz, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Arizona, suggests that cell phone jammers could be designed to block incoming call signals while still allowing emergency calls to be made.

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