The upcoming Marconi Society webinar on Thursday, February 22, will feature 2023 Marconi Prize recipient Hari Balakrishnan, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT). We recently spoke with Hari about how his interests in networking, mobile sensing, and distributed systems led him to creating technology to make roads safer. Hari also gave us a preview of what we can look forward to hearing from him and the other panelists during the webinar.
The story behind CMT and Hari’s work in telematics begins with the CarTel project at MIT. An early application of the technology developed there measured road surface conditions—including pothole detection—in partnership with Boston-area taxi companies. With a shift in emphasis from saving tires to saving lives, CMT’s technology today measures driver behavior to reduce automobile crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Recognizing that driving is the “most controllable factor,” Hari asserts that “telematics is the single biggest solution that we know today to solve this problem.”
The importance of this issue and the potential impact of technology to address it is evident in recent traffic crash data. Despite safety improvements in the vehicles themselves, the rates of serious injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents have risen steadily since 2010. Hari identified distracted driving as a significant factor, noting a parallel rise in the number of smartphones in use. Citing research on distracted driving, Hari observed that “over 80% of drivers have distraction episodes at least once a week.”
Driver analysis technology can be effective in reducing distracted driving and creating safer roads when coupled with financial incentives such as lower insurance rates. Infrastructure improvements—for example, posting digital signage in places where measurement shows risky driving is common—can contribute as well. When asked what he expects to learn from this webinar, Hari said he looks forward to hearing “ideas that bring together technology-based products, public policy, and changes in infrastructure” to enhance road safety.
We are fortunate to have a webinar panel capable of meeting Hari’s expectations. Panelists with backgrounds in the automobile industry, emergency medicine, insurance, and smart technology will join Hari to discuss how technological advancements, economic incentives, and policy-driven solutions can combine to create safer roads. On February 22, join our distinguished panel to learn more and drive change for a safer future.
