When you stop to think about it, your smartphone is a pretty amazing device. Within seconds you find out the name of the actor who is on the tip of your tongue, how to pronounce that dish at your favorite French restaurant, or how long it will take you to get from point A to point B. According to new research, your smartphone may even be able to tell when you’ve had too much to drink, enabling you to get from point A to point B safely.
Measuring how you walk to determine your level of intoxication
In a recent study, researchers relied on the computing power of smartphones to help estimate a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based solely on how they walked.
After consuming alcoholic beverages, study participants had a smartphone attached to their lower backs and then walked 10 steps forward and 10 steps back in the direction they had started from. It was discovered that smartphones could determine whether a person had a BAC of at least .08 with 90 percent accuracy.
More research is needed, and nothing is foolproof
Of course, most people aren’t going to go around with a smartphone strapped to their back before leaving the bar. Can you get an accurate measurement while carrying your phone in your hand? What about if you leave your phone in your purse or your pocket? Further studies will attempt to answer these questions.
Even if a phone can predict your BAC, it can’t predict human behavior. You may still decide you are sober enough to drive. The phone’s prediction could be off, and you may not realize this until the police stop you. You should always discuss your defense options with a skilled legal professional anytime you’re facing criminal charges.