Los Angeles, California Oct 22, 2024 (Issuewire.com) - The 21st century has arrived, yet hazardous and outdated government and business telecommunications systemscausing distracted walking, driving accidents, and screen addictioncontinue to cause harm and death. The toll on families, children, and employees is grievous, and action to modernize these systems is long overdue. This is an urgent homeland safety and security issue that requires immediate attention from elected officials. As we approach the November elections, modernizing the nations telecommunications should be the #1 priority for Presidential and Congressional candidates.

A Growing Crisis

Distracted driving, walking, and screen addiction have become a national (and global) crisis. At the turn of the century, the NHTSA declared it a "deadly epidemic." Despite the growing danger and over 8 billion mobile devices in use globally, the US government has done little or nothing to address this escalating problem. This inaction endangers every man, woman, and child in this nation, constituting a grievous breach of homeland safety and security. Outdated telecom systems, such as 800 numbers that still rely on visual inputs and text messaging, are not only contributing to distracted driving and walking accidents but also increasing screen addiction. It's time to demand that these government and business telecom systems be updated with modern sound or voice technologies, as this is required for public safety and health. This issue should be a top priority for all elected officials who have taken an oath to protect public safety. What could be more important in this election than safeguarding the lives of our children and loved ones?

The EyePhone Screen Addiction Crisis

Mobile "smartphones," combining screen use requirements, are not so smart after all, as they can be extremely dangerous. These "eyePhones" have turned the once innocuous phone usage into a constant visual distraction, causing accidents as users attention is hijacked by screens. This is likely the number one science and technology design error in all of history, proven by the fact that it continues to cause global harm, death, and devastation. This distraction epidemic can be likened to walking while typing on a laptopan absurd, but daily reality due to these screen devices. Scientists and big tech failed to demonstrate foresight to recognize how mobile screens would rewire human attention, creating a grave national and worldwide public safety crisis. This screen addiction crisis is particularly deleterious to children, as recognized in China, where laws limit minors to no more than two hours a day on their phones. This Chinese prerogative not only sets a good example for the world for health concerns but also serves as a crucial evolution of public awareness about this serious and urgent health and safety crisis.

ASF Legacy of Safety Initiatives and Public Awareness

The Automobile Safety Foundation (ASF) has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce distracted accidents, beginning with the "Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel" campaign, establishing the driver required road concentration criteria. Noting the success of the first major auto safety initiative, "Buckle up for Safety," a PSA jingle that went "viral" in the 1960s, successfully introducing injury-reducing seatbelts, ASF followed this PSA/jingle formula a few years ago, introducing "Eyes on the Road - Hands on the Wheel." This crucial accident prevention message, urgently needed during the distracted driving crisis, is receiving some national airplay that could be substantially boosted by socially responsible companies, more TV and radio airplay, celebrity covers, and sponsorships. This year, ASF released new lyrics entitled "Watch Where You're Going" to address screen addiction and accident prevention. Another important ASF initiative, to address passenger distraction, is the Copilot Driver License, see, Concentration - Automobile Safety Foundation.

Further efforts revealed a core issuetelecommunications systems that encourage visual distractions. To counter this, the ASF has introduced Safe Call, a sound-based telecom solution aimed at eliminating the visual inputs that lead to accidents. Modernizing telecom systems with sound-based technology should be made law to protect public safety.

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A Call for Leadership and Action

This election year, we need strong leadership to step up and modernize public telecommunications. The ASF calls on Presidential and Congressional candidates, as well as international leaders, to prioritize this urgent safety issue. There are currently three ways to modernize business public telecom, none of which are costly:

• AI systems like Amtraks "Julie," that talks to the caller.
• Sound-based phone prompts that state "Say or Enter," offering a voice option.
• A human operator that answers the call and talks to the caller. 

For public safety, sound technologies must become the new standard in government and business telecoms.

California DFPI Sets the Example

Californias Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has set a national precedent by adopting Safe Call sound-based phone systems, offering a blueprint for other states and countries to follow.

Introducing the Safe Call EarPhone

Necessity is the mother of invention: While national/international telecom is transitioning, another solution to the crisis has arrived: the Safe Call EarPhonea screenless mobile phone designed to prevent distracted walking, driving, and screen addiction. Unlike eyePhones, the EarPhone has no screen, making it safer for on-the-go use while also addressing the global screen addiction epidemic, especially harmful to children. The Safe Call EarPhone can address most of the tasks of the current smartphone while precluding all visual operatives. Recognizing its importance, the USPTO fast-tracked its patent approval, underscoring its potential to save lives.

A Lifesaving Solution - EarPhone or EyePhone

The Safe Call EarPhone is also a boon for the visually impaired and low-income individuals, providing a more affordable alternative to current screen-based phones. The Safe Call EarPhone does not put the eyePhone out of business but instead is a necessary companion to the eyePhoneideal and required for use while walking, biking, commuting, etc. The Safe Call EarPhone (patent #11991303) lifesaving technology is now available for licensing and manufacturing. Businesses and governments involved in transportation, such as Amazon, USPS, UPS, FedEx, Uber, and others, should adopt this Safe Call EarPhone as a critical tool and driving safety requirement.

Conclusion

As elections approach and into the new year, it is vital that public safety takes center stage. Modernizing telecom systems to address the screen addiction epidemic is a national priority and a global necessity. The Automobile Safety Foundation is prepared to collaborate with governments, businesses, and manufacturers to ensure that the United States progresses government and business public telecommunication into the new Safe Call twenty-first-century sound technology standard, by Executive order, Congressional action, and/or FCC regulations, while also offering Safe Call EarPhone patent and other lifesaving technologies to aid this urgent proposition. 

To learn more or partner with ASF, visit carsafe.org/safe-call or contact [email protected].