Driving
I've been driving since I was 15 years old, 50 years ago. At first it was exciting, then it was routine. About the time I graduated from high school. Yeah. Ever since it was just a way to get from point A to B, easier and faster than walking, biking or taking the bus. The improvements in safety, mechanics, luxuries have made it less onerous for me, but still a pain in the arse.
But now driving cars may become a thing of the past, like hitching up horses to buggies. At the behest of DARPA's initiatives, development of automatic robotic control of cars became a thing. Several cars have been designed and operated safely on our roads in the last few years and it's going well enough that car makers and insurance companies are getting nervous.
The economics of self driving cars are apparent, no need for insurance, no need for speed traps, no fear of car jacking (the cars can wirelessly be made to drive to a police station), drive by shootings, robber get-aways, etc. Add in that gas engined cars are also approaching an extinction event and you have the makings of a brave new and better world.
And remember Uber? Use your smart phone to summon a car? Why not do the same with fleets of autonomous electric basic transportation vehicles?
I'd like that. Rather than buying a car, just summon one when you need it, paying by the minute or having a national subscription service.
I could read, browse the internet, watch a movie or play games while I get to my destination. Much better than having to keep an eye on the road, ready for any sort of stupidity. And look at how easy it would be for the old and disabled to still travel.
But now driving cars may become a thing of the past, like hitching up horses to buggies. At the behest of DARPA's initiatives, development of automatic robotic control of cars became a thing. Several cars have been designed and operated safely on our roads in the last few years and it's going well enough that car makers and insurance companies are getting nervous.
The economics of self driving cars are apparent, no need for insurance, no need for speed traps, no fear of car jacking (the cars can wirelessly be made to drive to a police station), drive by shootings, robber get-aways, etc. Add in that gas engined cars are also approaching an extinction event and you have the makings of a brave new and better world.
And remember Uber? Use your smart phone to summon a car? Why not do the same with fleets of autonomous electric basic transportation vehicles?
I'd like that. Rather than buying a car, just summon one when you need it, paying by the minute or having a national subscription service.
I could read, browse the internet, watch a movie or play games while I get to my destination. Much better than having to keep an eye on the road, ready for any sort of stupidity. And look at how easy it would be for the old and disabled to still travel.