A patented smartphone technology, originally created for the blind, has now been built into a steering-wheel-mounted controller and app to help sighted drivers use smartphone apps on the road without looking at their handsets. The team behind RayGo, Project RAY, previously developed the world’s first smartphone for people with visual disabilities. “The same technology that helps thousands of blind people use smartphones is now used to battle the distracted-driving phenomenon,” says founder Michael Vakulenko. “Smartphone usage on the road has become a serious problem and a real safety hazard. While working on the RAY smartphone for the blind, it suddenly hit us that the solution to this problem has been in our hands all along. Eyes-free technology can help more than just the blind.”

RayGo is comprised of a five-key Bluetooth controller that is mounted on the steering wheel, and the RayGo Android app that converts the user’s favorite apps to DriveMode –a simplified version of these apps that allows for using them via voice only. In addition, RayGo monitors and adapts to steering wheel movements, speed and location in real time. The technology holds back notifications, pauses message playbacks and even speaks more slowly when necessary, in order to keep the driver from getting too distracted. Pending Apple’s approval, the Tel Aviv-based Project RAY hopes that RayGo will also be able to support iOS phones in the future.

A video showing how RayGo works is embedded below. (via Israel21c)

 [Photo: RayGo / YouTube ]