The Netbook Review

The US Department of transportation claims that approximately 6,000 people died in fatal crashes throughout 2009 resulting from distracted driving, including sending texts or using a cell phone behind the wheel, as well as other activities such as doing cosmetics or operating other electronic devices. An additional 500,000 were believed to have been seriously injured in crashes.

The amount of tasks which could possibly distract us while operating a vehicle is growing. Just who hasn’t already spent their drive talking on the cellphone, switching music, text messaging or plugging an address into the navigation system? While it may not appear like a problem, distracted driving is astonishingly commonplace,  very dangerous, and may also even be fatal.

Just as much as 80 percent of vehicle crashes include a motorist who had been diverted three seconds before the collision, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A whole lot worse, reports have demonstrated that the motorist using a mobile phone will be as serious as a drunk driver.

Anything that takes your hands off the steering wheel or your eyes and mind away from the highway is often a distraction. And even though you might not believe playing with the radio is much of a diversion, the loss of concentration for only a matter of seconds is perhaps all it takes to trigger a vehicle accident.

A person’s driving record is the single factor that comes with the greatest impact on your vehicle insurance rate.  In case you have been involved in an auto accident and it goes on your record, your car insurance policy company sees you as a high risk driver to insure. Your insurance plan rate can jump approximately 40 percent.

The Insurance Information Institute advises the following tips to reduce driving distractions:

* Do not eat and drink while driving a vehicle. Spills could potentially cause accidents and you can also be burned by hot drinks.

* Do not use the car rearview mirrors to shave, put on cosmetics, comb hair or otherwise primp and preen.

* Do not take notes when driving. If you wish to write some thing down, make use of a tape recorder or pull over to the side of the road.

* Do not speak or text when driving a car. Should you need to make a phone call, pull off the street to a safe location. If your telephone rings, allow your voice mail answer it. It is better and easier to retrieve your messages later.

* Keep in mind other preoccupied motorists on the highway and watch out for cars weaving in and out of lanes.

* When unsure, ask yourself if you will feel safe on the road witnessing another driver doing the same thing you happen to be.

Should you be accountable for other people driving vehicles, for instance teens or workers, then you definitely really should watch their cellular phone use with software applications to trace cell phone use, Track cell-phone to determine where and when phones are being used.  These applications are also known as Mobile-spy software.

When you successfully steer clear of distractions while driving a vehicle and possess a clean history, you will be rewarded with a discount on your automobile insurance.

Netbooks Reviewed cell phone monitoring, department of transportation, distracted driving

The US Department of Transportation offers resources published by the National Transportation Library, USDOT and is intended to be a brief introduction to the current status of research on the subject of distracted driving, as well as highlighting numerous sources from the last decade. The Department doesn’t endorse the studies listed in this bibliography, nor does any of the studies represent the official policy or position of the Department of Transportation, its agencies or its employees.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) information, the age group having the greatest percentage of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group. Sixteen percent of all under-20 drivers linked to a fatal collision were said to have been distracted while driving. Of these motorists associated with fatal crashes who were apparently distracted, the 30-39 year old group had the largest proportion of cellular telephone involvement.  The need to Trace Mobile use to diminish distracted driver incidents relates to both parents of teens, as well, managers.

The Distracted Driving and Driver, Roadway, and Environmental Factors survey makes use of data from the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) data to consider two issues with distracted driving due to distraction from sources within the motor vehicle and cognitive actions. The Crash Factors in Intersection-Related Crashes: An On-Scene Perspective report uses information from the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) statistics to look at general characteristics of the motor vehicle traffic crashes that happened at intersections. The focus is on the connection of the critical factors, i.e., the immediate reasons for the critical pre-crash event with collision factors. .

Grown ups are just as likely as teens to have texted while driving and are substantially prone to have talked on the phone while driving.  Moreover, 49% of adults state they have been passengers in a car when the driver was sending or reading texts on their mobile phone. Overall, 44% of adults assert they’ve been passengers of drivers who used the mobile phone in a way that placed themselves or others at risk. Over and above driving, many cell-toting pedestrians get so diverted when talking or texting that they have physically knocked into someone else or an object.  Using Spy Phone to observe cell phone usage may possibly pertain to more than just distracted drivers.

Driver distraction is a considerable and tricky safety problem to address.   The objective of the current study, Driver distraction in commercial vehicle operations, was to address the gap in investigation by looking at driver distraction in CMV operations. Naturalistic data collection is a technique used to examine driver conduct and performance by setting up sensors and video cameras in fleet trucks and supplying these vehicles to truck drivers to use as part of their regular revenue-producing deliveries. Using software to monitor Track Cell Phone Location may also produce other advantages in identifying phone misuse.  Taken together, these data sets characterize 203 CMV drivers, seven trucking fleets, and 16 fleet locations. In terms of data, the data set used incorporates approximately 3 million miles of constantly gathered kinematic and video data, and represents the most extensive naturalistic CMV driving set in the world.

Profiles in Driver Distraction: Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers survey finds younger and older drivers conversing on a hands-free cellular phone were observed to have slower reactions to random stopping by the vehicle ahead. Younger motorists responded 0.13 seconds more slowly, and the older drivers responded 0.17 seconds more slowly when talking on a cell phone. Over-all, use of cellular phone led to 18% slower responses to the vehicle in front braking.

The large scale epidemiological study, Wireless telephones and the risk of road crashes, finds elevated crash possibility connected with cellular phone use, including a 10%-20% increase for injury accidents.

Netbooks Reviewed cell phone monitoring, department of transportation, distracted driving

Innovative software application provides parents what they need to protect kids and monitor smart phones.

Teens and youth are at risk from Gambling, Distracted Driving, Sexting, Bullying, Predators and more.  These new issues require new methods for dealing with them.  Anyone that wants to keep up with how kids, staff or spouse are using their smartphones  should know about new cell phone tracker software that is becoming very common and can do much more than locate smartphones.  Brand new technology are getting a great deal of attention.  

A really great software package that includes remote control of handset settings, and combines Phone GPS Tracking  with SMS text message, Call Log, Website Visit History, MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle Parental Control  software.  

Over the last couple of months a handful of software companies have released ‘spyware’ for mobile phones.  Mobile monitor software captures SMS text messages, cell phone GPS location, Websites Visited,  sent and received cell phone event log information and sends the data to an online secure account  where users can logon and read it, and also search content for words and phrases and data strings such as phone numbers. 

The latest smartphones are the cell phones with computer capabilities.  Trade names such as BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Android, Nokia Symbian – all have spyware software available.  Spy Call and Call Intercept mobile phone tapping|mobile phone bugging] require that the target phone uses a GSM network. Over three million smartphones a month are sold in the US and Canada, and sales are approaching one hundred and fifty million sold per year around the world.

As texting from mobile phones has become a focus in teen social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly alarmed about the role of cellular phones in the sexual lives of youths.   A fresh survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org/topics/Teens.aspx) determined that 4% of cell-owning teenagers between the ages of 12-17 say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to other people via text messaging.  This activity is typically known as “sexting” in the current vernacular.  Additionally, fifteen percent say they have received these kinds of images images of someone they already know by way of SMS.

By studying over than forty thousand monthly US mobile telecom bills,  Nielsen  concluded that American teens sent an average of an astounding 3,100 texts each month during Q3 last year.  Youth were interviewed and gave Amanda Lenhart, Senior Research Specialist and author of the report various explanations behind the motivation to get involved with sexting.  These included the researcher’s interpretation that “…sexually suggestive images had become a form of relationship currency,”; that sexting images “… are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity,” and that SMS  text message  sexting is a way of establishing a relationship.   Sensitive images are also passed along to friends “… for their entertainment value, as a joke, or for fun.”

An extremely impressive software program that helps parents and employers monitor cell phones and backup their mobile communications data including GPS location, SMS text messages, MMS messages, Website visit history and phone call logs is PhoneBeagle.  If you would like to read more about workable technological solution available for parents and guardians to discover what their teenagers are doing with their cellphones through  mobile monitoring software visit information on software for Parental Control at www.phonebeagle.com.  

Netbooks Reviewed cell phone monitoring, mobile monitoring, parental monitoring, Phone Beagle

A recent report from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy suggests that over 20% of teens (ages 13-19) and an incredible 33% of young adults (ages 20-26) have shared nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves either over cell phone SMS text messages or by posting on the internet. Teenage girls are a little more likely to do this than boys and a very distressing 11% of the young teen girls (ages 13-16) admitted to sending suggestive photos of themselves.

Recent studies  from The Nielsen Company and the Pew Research Center indicate a handful of factors that should be causing concern for parents and guardians. These problems are also an opportunity for solution providers. There is a rise in the percentage of teenagers that use cell phones, the amount of texting they do, and more troubling the percentage of young people that are occupied with “sexting” – the sending of potentially illegal images or text messages from cell phones.

Why the fuss and bother?  Just innocent fun, adolescents exploring their emerging sexuality? 

Think again.  Sending a sexually explicit photo of a child is a sex crime.  Young people are being arrested, convicted and having to register as sex offenders.  They are gambling with more than emotional distress and humiliation, charges of sexual misconduct can result in getting suspended and expelled from school, losing scholarships, and losing jobs.  A felony conviction can also affect future employment opportunities, including law enforcement and other high-security clearance positions.   In other words, they’re ruining their lives over a little “innocent” fun.

There is very little that is innocent about it.  {Keep in mind|Consider} that if a young teen sends a sexting image of themselves – they could be violating child pornography statues in most states. 

Getting convicted in felony court for “sexting” can easily have other serious consequences.  In addition to the potential jail sentence and/or fine levied by a judge, they may be required to register with the Sex Offender Registration Board for the next 20 years.  Additionally, the felony court may order the surrender and destruction of the computer or digital devices used.

As sending text messages from cell phones has become an attraction in teen social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly worried about the role of cell phones in the sexual lives of teens.   A new research study from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org/topics/Teens.aspx) determined that 4% of cell phone owning teens between age 12 and 17 indicate they have transmitted sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else using SMS text messages.  This practice is typically referred to “sexting” in the current slang. Additionally, 15% say they have received these kinds of images images of someone they actually know via text message.

According to a study from market researchers The Nielsen Company (blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/under-aged-texting-usage-and-actual-cost/) American youths transmit an inconceivable average of 10 text messages every hour that they are not in school or sleeping – and most likely a lot during class too!

By examining more than forty thousand monthly US mobile cellular bills, Nielsen concluded that American teenagers sent an average of an astounding 3,146 text messages every month during Q3 2009.  

Their younger counterparts – tweenagers – from age 9 to 12 sent an average of 1,146 texts every month.   That equates to four per hour they were in school or not sleeping.  In comparison, the average number of monthly texts sent by all cell phone users collectively was just slightly above 500. In the fourth quarter 2009, tweenage users from age 9 to 12 increased messaging usage by 8% just about doubling the quantity of text messages.

Pew Research points out that sexting occurs usually under one of three typical scenarios:  The first, exchanges of images only between two romantic partners;
the next, lists exchanges between partners that are then shared outside the relationship; followed by, exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but with one person hoping there will be one hopes to be}.

Teenagers were interviewed and gave researchers a variety of explanations behind the motivation to participate in sexting.  These included the researcher’s interpretation that “…sexually suggestive images had become a form of relationship currency,”; that sexting images “… are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity,” and that SMS text message sexting is a way of starting or maintaining a relationship.   Sensitive photos are also passed along to friends “… for their entertainment value, as a joke, or for fun.”

Teenagers also described to researchers the peer pressure to share sexual images.  Not surprisingly the report revealed that teens that are intensive users of  mobile phones are more likely to receive inappropriate images.  For these teenagers, the phone has become such a common means for communication and a variety of content that doing without it is nearly unthinkable.

The desire for risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teenage years mixed with regular connection via cellular phones and other mobile devices “…creates a ‘perfect storm’ for sexting,” said Pew’s Amanda Lenhart.  “Teenagers have always grappled with issues around sex and relationships, but their coming-of-age mistakes and transgressions have never been so easily transmitted and archived for others to see.”

Despite the indications that per user usage has peaked, Nielsen estimates that overall text message usage will increase as the avid user population ages and entices the older generations to text with them in order to stay in contact with them.  Existing SMS users are expected to continue to text extensively and as tweenagers become teenagers they are in all probability going to follow the trends of texting established by current teenagers.  The number of text messages sent per capita has grown every year and should continue.

If you’ve got teens then you’re probably not surprised by the usage numbers. But in all liklihood you’re also either in denial that your teens are involved in sexting, or you’re actively seeking solutions to the problem. In all probability most parents can’t believe their children are involved with sexting, or they are looking for ways to find out.   While parents may be upset that all the texts their teens and tweens are sending will land them in the poorhouse, Nielsen analysis shows the average cost of a single text message is only about one penny.  The real issue affecting families is not so much how often teens use their phones but more about how they use their phones, and when they are using them.

Sexting is an  extremely complicated issue.  Consequently, it is very hard to provide advice on how best to handle these situations.  The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children policy states that there are four roles to every sexting case: the individual seen in the picture, someone  who took the photo, the distributor(s) of the image, and the recipient(s) of the photo.  In some cases one person may assume more than one of these roles (e.g., a child takes a sexually explicit photo, of herself and sends it to a classmate). In other situations, multiple people may take on a single role (e.g., a child takes a sexually explicit picture of himself and sends it to a classmate who then forwards the photo to the entire high school senior class). It is important to think about the intentions and motives of each of the parties under different circumstances.

The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children advocates parents monitor cell phone use.  A workable technological solution available for parents and guardians to discover what teenagers are doing~what’s going on with their children}  is cell phone software. 

Sexting can be against the law.  Parents have responsibility to do something about it.  Especially considering low cost solutions can be ordered online.     A really great software package that includes remote control of handset settings, and combines Phone GPS Tracking  with SMS text message, Call Log,  MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle.  

Follow this link if you are interested in    Cell Phone Monitoring Software that is compatible with BlackBerry  and  Android  Smartphones,.    Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for 
Parental Monitoring of Mobile Phones .

Netbooks Reviewed cell phone monitoring, mobile phone monitoring, parental monitoring, sexting, texting

A recently published study from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy indicates that over 20% of teens (ages 13-19) and an incredible 33% of young adults (ages 20-26) have shared nude or semi-nude images of themselves either over cell phone text messaging or by posting on the web. Teenage girls are a little more likely to do this than boys and a very distressing 11% of the young teen girls (ages 13-16) admitted to sending inappropriate photos of themselves.

Recent studies  from The Nielsen Company and the Pew Research Center show a handful of factors that should be causing concern for parents and guardians. These problems are also an opportunity for software solutions companies. There is a rise in the percentage of teens that own cellular phones, the amount of texting they do, and more troubling the number of teens that are occupied with “sexting” – the sending of potentially illegal images or text messages from cell phones.

What’s the fuss?  Just innocent fun, youth exploring their new sexuality? 

Think again.  Sending a sexually explicit image of a child is a sex crime.  Young people are being arrested, convicted and having to register as sex offenders.  They are gambling with more than emotional distress and humiliation, convictions can trigger a restriction of school activities, such as sports, denial of college admission, and denial of student loan eligibility, and losing jobs.  A felony conviction can also affect future employment opportunities, including law enforcement and other high-security clearance positions.   In other words, they’re ruining their lives over a little “innocent” fun.

There is very little that is innocent about it.  {Keep in mind|Consider} that if a young teen sends a sexting photo of themselves – they could be breaking child pornography statues in most states. 

A conviction in criminal court for “sexting” will have other serious consequences.  In addition to the potential jail sentence and/or fine levied by a judge, they may be required to register with the Sex Offender Registration Board for the next 20 years.  Additionally, the criminal court may order the forfeiture and destruction of the computer or digital devices used.

As sending SMS text messages from cell phones has become a focus in youth social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly alarmed about the role of cellular phones in the sexual lives of teens.   A new survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (pewinternet.org/topics/Teens.aspx) found that 4% of cell phone using young people ages 12-17 indicate they have transmitted sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to other people using text messaging.  This activity is typically referred to “sexting” in the current slang. Furthermore, fifteen percent say they have received these kinds of images images of someone they already know by way of text message.

According to a study from marketing research firm The Nielsen Company (blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/under-aged-texting-usage-and-actual-cost/) American young people transmit an unbelievable average of ten SMS messagesSMS texts per hour that they are not in school or sleeping – and most likely a lot during school too!

By evaluating more than 40,000 monthly US mobile mobile bills, Nielsen concluded that American teens sent an average of an astounding 3,146 texts each month during Q3 2009.  

Their younger counterparts – tweenagers – from age 9 to 12 sent an average of 1,146 texts every month.   That equates to four every hour they were in school or not sleeping.  In comparison, the average number of monthly texts sent by all cellular users collectively was just slightly above five hundred. In the fourth quarter 2009, tweenage users ages 9-12 years old increased text usage by 8% just about doubling the quantity of text messages.

Pew Research points out that sexting occurs most often under one of three different scenarios:  The first, exchanges of images solely between two romantic partners;
the next, lists exchanges between partners that are then shared outside the relationship; followed by, exchanges between people who are not yet in a relationship, but with one person hoping there will be one hopes to be}.

Teenagers were interviewed and gave researchers various reasons behind the motivation to get involved with sexting.  These included the researcher’s interpretation that “…sexually suggestive images had become a form of relationship currency,”; that sexting images “… are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity,” and that SMS text message sexting is a way of starting or maintaining a relationship.   Sensitive pictures are also passed along to other people “… for their entertainment value, as a joke, or for fun.”

Teens also described to researchers the peer pressure to share these types of images.  Not surprisingly the report also reveals that teens that are intensive users of  cellular phones are more likely to to be sent sexually suggestive images.  For these teenagers, the phone has become such a common means for communication and a variety of content that doing without it is nearly unthinkable.

The combination of risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teenage years mixed with regular connection using cellular phones and other mobile devices “…creates a ‘perfect storm’ for sexting,” said Pew’s Amanda Lenhart.  “Teenagers have always grappled with issues around sex and relationships, but their coming-of-age mistakes and transgressions have never been so easily transmitted and archived for others to see.”

Despite the indications that per user usage has peaked, Nielsen estimates that overall text messaging usage will increase as the heavy text messaging demographic ages and entices the older generations to text with them in order to stay in contact with them.  Existing SMS users will continue to text extensively and as tweenagers age they will increase usage.  The number of text messages sent per capita has grown every year and should continue.

If you’ve got children then in all likelihood not shocked by the usage numbers. But chances are you’re also either in denial that your teens are involved in sexting, or you’re actively seeking solutions to the problem. In all probability most parents can’t believe their teens are involved with sexting, or they are looking for ways to find out.   While parents may be upset that all the texts their teens and tweens are sending will land them in the poorhouse, Nielsen analysis shows the average cost of a single text message is just one cent.  The real issue affecting families is not so much how often teens use their phones but has more to do with how they use their phones, and when they are using them.

Sexting is an  extremely complicated topic.  Consequently, it is very difficult to provide guidance on how best to handle these situations.  The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children policy talks about that there are four roles to every sexting case: the person seen in the picture, the individual  who took the photo, the distributor(s) of the photo, and the recipient(s) of the photo.  In some cases one person may assume more than one of these roles (e.g., a youth takes a sexually explicit image, of herself and sends it to a classmate). In other situations, multiple people may take on a single role (e.g., a child takes a sexually explicit picture of himself and sends it to a classmate who then forwards the photo to the entire high school senior class). It is important to think about the intent and motivation of each of the parties under different circumstances.

The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children advocates parents monitor cell phone use.  A workable technological solution available for parents and guardians to find out what their {children are doing~what’s going on with their children}  is mobile monitoring technology. 

Sexting can be against the law.  Parents are responsible to do something about it.  Especially when low cost solutions can be ordered online.     A really great software package that includes remote control of smartphone settings, and combines Phone GPS Tracking  with SMS text message, Call Log,  MMS multi-media message monitoring, and a web account for storage and review is PhoneBeagle.  

Follow this link if you are interested in    Mobile Monitoring Software that is compatible with BlackBerry  and  Android  Smartphones,.    Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for 
Parental Monitoring of Mobile Phones .

Netbooks Reviewed cell phone monitoring, mobile phone monitoring, parental monitoring, sexting, texting