Live data from Hacker News

Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

npr.org

1–10 of 53 posts

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#2
Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators.

Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an objective score and store the simulated session as evidence if they fail.

Not only does this more directly measure impairment, it catches any cause of it, not just a particular substance. Virtual driving impairment will correlate with real driving impairment far better than parts per million of a molecule in the bloodstream.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#3
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

[deleted]

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#4
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

Very difficult to prove that the simulation is an accurate and easy to grasp representation that holds up in a court.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#5
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

"You suck at video games, enjoy your DUI"

Honestly this sounds unreasonable.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#6
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

It's an interesting idea, but the critical issue with it is that it's not illegal to be bad at driving. That could change, but that's how it is now.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#7
post #4
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

Very difficult to prove that the simulation is an accurate and easy to grasp representation that holds up in a court.

You could put the judge and/or jury in VR headsets for the playback. They would see just what the defendant saw, in four dimensions. That's amazingly high fidelity, and the chain of evidence can be demonstrated with a checksum. Compared to judging the inner workings of a breathalyzer, that pretty good.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#9
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

You're describing a fancy field sobriety test. There's a reason why those who fail field sobriety tests for alcohol are then asked for a breath sample (or when they refuse, a blood test)

A criminal defense lawyer would tell their clients to say in court they intentionally failed the test. (Burden of proof still lies with the prosecution) You can't be convicted for failing a test. You can only be convicted of being under the influence.

Re: Developing a viable cannabis breathalyzer

#10
post #6
post #2

Why use less reliable proxies like breathalizers to gauge impairment when we now have the technology to measure it far more directly: convert traffic cop cars into mobile virtual reality driving simulators. Put a gaming laptop in the trunk, and the DWI suspect behind the wheel with a VR headset on and let them drive through a couple of minutes of reasonably challenging simulated traffic. Let software come up with an…

It's an interesting idea, but the critical issue with it is that it's not illegal to be bad at driving. That could change, but that's how it is now.

Ah, but it's illegal to drive without a license and the test is a de facto driving test so you could make it so that if you fail it you won't get arrested but you get your license suspended on the spot.
Post reply on HN