Nuance Communications Challenges Distracted Drivers

BURLINGTON, Mass.--

What:

Contestants equipped with a traditional cell phone will compete against a driver using Nuance speech solutions to conduct a number of mobile device-related tasks in a simulated driving environment. Speed is not the critical measurement in this race, but rather minimizing distraction and ensuring safety by allowing the driver to keep his hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Drivers will be tasked with finding a local business, sending text messages and playing specific MP3 music selections – several of the typical distractions plaguing drivers today.

The event is a continuation of the October 2006 Amazing Race that pit Nuance® Mobile Messaging against the Guinness Book of World Records’ fastest text messager (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4Jk6GDud0).

Who:

Nuance Communications offers people the ability to access information, create messages, and control mobile devices with the power of voice and advanced text input, delivering a solution to the constraints of small keyboards and tiny screens. Nuance speech solutions provide hands-free, eyes-free access to the consumer electronics devices and automotive entertainment systems that are increasingly creating distractions for today’s drivers.

When:

Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

Where:

The Amazing Race will take place at Conversations Mobile, being held at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Fla., 33432.

Why:

The proliferation of personal electronic devices used by drivers – including mobile phones, navigation devices and MP3 players – is creating increased risks for distracted driving. The number of state legislatures debating measures that address the problem of cell phone use while driving and other driver distractions continues to rise. Several recent surveys have confirmed that more than half of all drivers with mobile devices have read and/or sent email or text messages while driving For young, inexperienced drivers, with a cultural desire to stay connected to peers via mobile device interaction at all times, the distractions of mobile devices while driving can be even more dangerous. Fifty-one percent of teens said they talk on cell phones while driving, according to a AAA/Seventeen magazine survey, while 46 percent admitted to texting while driving.

How:

Program information and a detailed conference agenda are available online at www.conversations2007.com. To attend the Amazing Race, contact Kristen Wylie at (617) 290-4487.