Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, ipod shuffle
First Look: Got Your BAC for iPhone/iPod touch
If you frequent the bar, or just like to have the occasional drink, then a new iPhone application has Got Your Back. As a matter of fact, that is the name of the application; except it is spelled BAC (as in Blood-Alcohol Concentration). With this application you will know exactly when you should call a taxi.When you first launch the application, you'll enter some personal information, like age, weight, and gender, so the application can calculate your BAC correctly. The main display shows four drinks on a table. You can change the type of beverage by double-tapping and selecting a different one -- the icon will also change. Each time you drink a beverage, you drag the icon off the table and onto the screen. The BAC, Carbs, Calories, and number of drinks will be updated in the top-left corner of the screen. As you add drinks, these numbers will increase. The red line across the screen indicates the legal limit -- when you're above this line, a new button will appear called "call a taxi." When tapped, this button will launch the Maps app and search for taxis.
I love subtle UI features, and this application definitely has some: from the icon sets for beverages, to the sloshing liquid when you tilt the iPhone. The application is really great, and I would love to see the developer create a caffeine calculator that does the same thing. I would like to see the ability to input a number for a designated driver, that way you don't have to fumble through your contacts or call a taxi. Got Your BAC is available from the App Store for $2.99 (US). And, remember, the best thing to do is to not drink and drive.
Gallery: First Look: Got Your BAC
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jake said 8:28AM on 11-24-2008
Without being based on actual scientific information such as a blood test or breathilizer, this software will have a margin of error that may only serve to encourage people who are impaired to think that maybe perhaps they are safe to drive. At best, this software is a well-meaning piece of misinformation. At worst, it creates all sorts of issues and may result in people behind the wheel who think they are being responsible when they actually are not fit to drive.
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Big John said 11:07AM on 11-24-2008
If you really, truly believe that this application is meant to replace a breathalyzer, you're beyond the realm of helping.
Completely pointless comment.
Danno said 8:46AM on 11-24-2008
It stands for Blood Alcohol CONTENT
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Big John said 11:11AM on 11-24-2008
Actually, skippy, it's both. 'Content' is certainly the more well-known but 'concentration' isn't exactly unacceptable.
Neil said 1:42PM on 11-24-2008
Can't we settle this over a pint?
Stu J said 8:47AM on 11-24-2008
So a story the other day condoning speeding, as long as you know where the speed traps are & now one trying to beat drinking and driving ... splendid work there TUAW!
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Big John said 11:08AM on 11-24-2008
How exactly is this "beat drinking and driving"? There's a button that says "CALL A TAXI!" that (if you read the brief review) searches for taxis in the area.
Also, the quote at the end: "And, remember, the best thing to do is to not drink and drive."
Julian Weisser said 11:30AM on 11-24-2008
I agree about the encouraging speeding thing but you are completely off base with the claim that this is encouraging drinking and driving...
Stu J said 11:34AM on 11-24-2008
Yeah I may be a bit off base on this one. But who needs an app to tell them to judge their bac level on a piece of software - just sounds a bit ... strange.
The Captain said 9:48AM on 11-24-2008
Here's a novel idea — if you're drinking so much that you need a mobile phone application to tell you whether you *might* be too inebriated to drive, maybe you should just play it safe and call a cab regardless of what your phone says?
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Big John said 11:10AM on 11-24-2008
Here's a novel idea: it's nice to know, some people may like it and some people like knowing the application exists.
There are some states with an incredibly stringent limit on BAC when it comes to DUI/DWI laws and again... it's nice to know. Is it a breathalyzer? No. It certainly helps to know about when I can legally drive after I have those two glasses of wine after dinner.
Chris said 10:12AM on 11-24-2008
This is an interesting idea, and though I have yet to try it out, I'm sure the more drunk people get, the less likely they will be to keep the app up-to-date on their drinks.
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Chris said 10:15PM on 11-26-2008
Valid point, Chris. But an app like this would be PERFECT for casual drinking at dinner. It's the times you've have had 2 or 3 drinks that you wonder if you are okay. If I'm going out to get tanked, I wouldn't bother because I know I'm not driving. Definately worth a download and looks much more intuitive/fun than a lot of the other BAC apps out there. Some of them look like friggin' spreadsheets.
Cool idea.
robogobo said 3:04PM on 11-24-2008
Comment, comment comment. Comment comment comment- comment!
(comment ftw!)
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Christian said 4:11PM on 11-24-2008
There is a Free APP that does the exact same thing basically, and has a speed dial to find local DUI Attorneys nearby.. It's called Last Call in the app store.. This app looks cool, but i'm all about try before you buy kind of guy...
CP
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Alex Kaminski said 7:47PM on 11-24-2008
I developed a similar app that is more accurate in calculating the BAC (blood alcohol level). You can also change the settings if you want to see if your friend is drunk or not.
Cory, you are able to choose a "designated caller" from your address book.
Take a look: http://www.awaytalk.com/iphone/drinksafely/
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