Piehole

Most of us have seen the sassy Siri commercials featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Zooey Deschanel demonstrating all of Siri’s capabilities from finding a nearby marketplace to setting a reminder to clean the house (in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 18 months, Siri is the Apple iPhone personal assistant). Finally, we have confirmation that Siri will enter a realm she has never been before: the car.

In early 2013, drivers of two GM models, the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic, will have the option to integrate Siri into their MyLink infotainment systems. According to General Motors, Siri will operate in Hands Free and Eyes Free mode in order to minimize distractions. By using buttons on the steering wheel, owners of the iPhone 4S and 5 will be able to interact with Siri by using their voice without the screen lighting up. Drivers can make phone calls, play tunes, confirm calendar appointments, check the score of the game and compose, send and audibly listen to messages or emails – all while keeping their eyes on the road.

This announcement is coming in the midst of the AT&T “It Can Wait” campaign, which is encouraging drivers to take a pledge to cease distracted driving practices. Fast Company reports that other car brands including Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota and Honda are working with Apple to release their own integration systems. This new technology could revolutionize our driving experience, cutting down on distracted driving and optimizing the hours we spend commuting.

But are people really so busy that they can’t drive to a meeting across town without performing a single function or another on their iPhone? Is it possible that society is so connected that our devices have become an extension of us in every aspect of our day?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable when a stranger stands just a little too close in line at Starbucks or at the grocery store? Most people can say with confidence that they have experienced a violation of personal space, but why is it such an uncomfortable experience, and why can others be so oblivious to their surroundings?

A part of the human brain called the Amygdala is programmed to manage fear and process emotions. These almond shaped regions in the temporal lobe are the reason for discomfort when a stranger enters the sphere of another’s personal space. An article in TIME Magazine describes a study, showing that the Amygdala is stimulated when participants are told that another person is standing close to them, even if they are not able to confirm this person’s presence through sight, sound or smell.  Have you ever gotten that eerie feeling that someone is hovering too closely?

Personal space is a subjective issue depending on several factors like surroundings or relationship to another person. Someone who lives in a big city and relies on public transportation might be more accustomed to violation of personal space than someone who lives in the suburbs. Despite a way of living, an event like a concert or a baseball game causes less anxiety because a limited amount of personal space is anticipated. The level of comfort is additionally contingent upon the relationship to the person who is in your space. Isn’t everyone more comfortable hugging family and friends than simple acquaintances?

Our technology-driven world has rendered people seemingly oblivious to their surroundings with the proliferation of Smartphones.  People tend to become distracted by a text message or a game of Angry Birds, making them unaware that their proximity allows others to determine whether they have showered or not.

On the road, it is common knowledge to maintain distance and remain a car length (or more) apart, but similar rules are applicable in a public location. People need to be conscious that everyone has a different comfort level. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a force field that kept strangers outside of our personal space?