App Translates Voice Commands Into Texts

Sioux Falls' texting ban goes into effect later this month and you could also be slapped with a fine for using a voice activated texting app if you have to touch your phone to activate it. 

There's a relatively new app for your smart phone that allows you to text and drive without touching the phone or taking your eyes off the wheel, possibly saving you a $200 fine and 30 days in jail.

Beginning September 28, it'll be illegal in Sioux Falls to text and drive.  

That's why cell phone providers think a new app called VLINGO, that you can download for free on your smart phone, will become extremely popular. It translates voice commands into text messages.

Ryan McGinnis of Wireless World demonstrates how it works.

Ryan: So we can just say hey VLINGO!
VLINGO: What would you like to do?
Ryan: Text Ryan McGinnis. Hey Ryan how is your day going?

VLINGO reads the message back to you to make sure it's correct, then you tell it to send.

"If this was mounted on my dash or somewhere in a cup holder or wherever, I didn't have to touch the phone at all, I just gave it the verbal command of hey VLINGO, then it's going to ask me what would I like to do," McGinnis said.

VLINGO also reads an incoming message to you.

Don: So you really never have to take your hands off the wheel?
Ryan: Not at all, once you turn this app on and sit in the car, hands are on the wheel, eyes are on the road, it's just a verbal command for the phone to do whatever you want it to do.

So, we decided to give it a try.

Don: Hey VLINGO!
VLINGO: What would you like to do?
Don: Text Ryan McGinnis. Make sure you watch the news tonight.
VLINGO: Send text message to Ryan McGinnis. Make sure you watch the news tonight.

There's also another app that's free that allows parents to set parameters on their children's cell phones that will disable texting once the car goes over 10mph. And the only way it can be changed, is if the child knows the password that the parent selected.