Live data from Hacker News

Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

japantimes.co.jp

11–20 of 129 posts

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#13

In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this. There are at least two legitimate use cases that don't cause too many problems: 1. Using your phone as an actual phone (i.e., an audio only conversation with the thing held to your ear, or with a headset). 2. Using it as a navigational aid. If I'm not too sure where I'm going I'll often use e…

> In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this.

Makes me wonder, if you bump into them and they drop their phone and break it, who is responsible?

What if they were standing still and texting in the middle of the sidewalk?

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#14

In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this. There are at least two legitimate use cases that don't cause too many problems: 1. Using your phone as an actual phone (i.e., an audio only conversation with the thing held to your ear, or with a headset). 2. Using it as a navigational aid. If I'm not too sure where I'm going I'll often use e…

Not necessarily practical for everyday use, but can you navigate using earphones? I tried that when negotiating European cities like Basel, and Copenhagen on electric scooters, and it worked really well. Just start navigation, and preferably don't play music so you'd only get cues when you have to change course.

I actually got pulled over by a police officer for something unrelated, and he was fine with the earphones when I explained I wasn't playing music.

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#16

In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this. There are at least two legitimate use cases that don't cause too many problems: 1. Using your phone as an actual phone (i.e., an audio only conversation with the thing held to your ear, or with a headset). 2. Using it as a navigational aid. If I'm not too sure where I'm going I'll often use e…

I’m sure there are some use cases where you absolutely need a screen.

Phone calls and maps directions though are actually very nice, and I would argue superior, using just a headset instead of the screen.

The usage of mobile screens differs across the world as well. In my experience, in south and east asia people are glued to their screens much more than in other parts of the world (probably because the rest of the world still catches up). So such a rule might not seem as necessary in other parts of the world, yet.

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#17

In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this. There are at least two legitimate use cases that don't cause too many problems: 1. Using your phone as an actual phone (i.e., an audio only conversation with the thing held to your ear, or with a headset). 2. Using it as a navigational aid. If I'm not too sure where I'm going I'll often use e…

I agree with you but most people really are not doing #1 or #2 most of the time... Your own experience as my example.

It's a classic "why we can't have nice things" problem.

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#19

In London, they used to have a prohibition against absent-mindedly using your phone while walking enforced by privateer motorcyclists who would confiscate your phone.

Sadly that tradition is alive and well. Angel is a particular hot spot for it

Re: Yamato becomes Japan's first city to 'ban' use of phones while walking

#20

In general I find people using their phones whilst walking to be a nuisance, but I'm still not particularly in favour of this. There are at least two legitimate use cases that don't cause too many problems: 1. Using your phone as an actual phone (i.e., an audio only conversation with the thing held to your ear, or with a headset). 2. Using it as a navigational aid. If I'm not too sure where I'm going I'll often use e…

Regarding #2, you are supposed.to move out of the way before you pull up your phone to check for direction. That sounds reasonable to me.
Post reply on HN