Driving With Google Glass Is As Distracting As Using A Mobile Phone

According to a recent study, wearing a Google Glass and using it while driving is as distracting as using a mobile phone while driving.

Ben Sawyer, psychological researcher from the University of Central Florida, says, "When you look at how fast people react to an unexpected traffic event - how fast they slam on their brakes, we didn't find a statistically significant difference between Google Glass and smartphones."

Google glasses are capable of sending text messages, using voice input and head commands.

Google Glass spokesperson have claimed that since the glasses give the driver all the information, with very little distraction, it keeps the driver's eyes on the road.

"Looking does not necessarily mean you are seeing," said Sawyer, because only the eyes are present on the road and the mind and thought is distracted.

Around 40 people participated in the study, in which they had to text an arithmetic problem via Google Glass or using a smartphone while driving in a simulator.

During the process, the drivers faced a car braking suddenly ahead of them. After a near-collision, Sawyer said the participants showed varied levels of confidence in their ability to text and drive.

Smartphone users spaced out more than Google Glass users between their car and the car ahead.

One advantage where the Google Glass edged over smartphones was the Glass users recovered from the near-accident faster than phone users to get back to speeds on roads.