Google Creating Driverless Cars

[CAP1]

btw....google is creating nothing.

do a youtube search for top gear bmw self drive. they did this at least a year ago. mercedes too. there's been buicks, and i think hondas in the us doing a version of this system.

[trax1]

Jayhawk, while I can see what you're thinking here, the fact is that no computer can match my ninja-like reflexes.

However, I could see this going bad like many other "tools". (Remote controls, cell-phones, reachin' sticks, to name a few.) It will end up being a crutch for the lazy. I don't know anybody that can't drive a manual transmissioned vehicle.

Let's all get a little dumber and more lazy.

<S> Melvin

It's not just something thats gonna make life easier like a remote or cell phone does, it's something thats actually going to save lives, think about how many traffic related fatalities there are in the world each year, also it would drastically cut down on traffic jams, as long as a majority of the cars & trucks are using the system, billions are lost every year due to people, and cargo just sitting in those traffic jams.

[Melvin]

And as another poster pointed out, billions are EARNED each year by those very same cars and trucks.

<S> Melvin

PS: As for drunk drivers (old people too), how many will be cognitive enough to operate their Botcar?

[Dichotomy]

meh, I'd use it.  

Get up, throw on some clothes, get in the car, go back to sleep, arrive at work.  What about parents with teenagers *program a 10 mile radius around the house* .  But that's typical lazy me.  

I can see advantages and disadvantages but I do see that production of vehicles with this capability has its uses and shouldn't be immediately dismissed.  As posted before people with disabilities will be able to transport themselves and, possibly, remain in the workforce as opposed to being home bound.  Elderly people who still have a lot to offer that have poor vision etc.. wouldn't be dependent on family, charities, government, to get them around or in extreme cases.  To a doctor.

A personal example.  My night vision gets worse the older I get.  It's to the point now that I don't really want to drive at night unless I absolutely HAVE to. Having an automated car could come in handy for me in the future.    

Just some thoughts.

[trax1]

And as another poster pointed out, billions are EARNED each year by those very same cars and trucks.

<S> Melvin

PS: As for drunk drivers (old people too), how many will be cognitive enough to operate their Botcar?

What billions are earned by those same cars & trucks that would be now lost by this system and losing traffic jams & accidents?  Truckers wouldn't necessarily lose their jobs by this system, I'm sure a human behind the wheel would still be required, just now the trucks getting to it's destination in a faster time saving on fuel & shipping cost, losing traffic jams would certainly result in a net gain across the economy, not a loss, I don't think you'd find any economist that would say a system like this would be a bad thing for the economy. 

[Melvin]

Well Trax, you make a good point. As long as human "system monitors" are still required.

Now, I pose this problem for you.

Imagine how many people in the insurance business would be out of work if it were determined that the odds of an "accident" on the roads was negligable.

I know, I know, nobody likes the insurance man. But, the fact is that it puts food on some people's table.

Basically, this tech would cost people's livelihoods.

As for the dumbing down of America.

How many of us can still read a compass?

How many can find Polaris (Or the Southern Cross)?

How many can read a sextant? (I can't, wish I could.)

Heck, how many can even read a map?

It's OK, the computer will do that for us. For now.

<S> Melvin

"Botcar! Take me to the nearset bar (or church)!"

[Dichotomy]

wai wai waiiiiittttt!!!!!

Are the botcars going to be run on Windows?  Because if they are I guess you could be running along at 80 but have to shut down and restart every so often for no apparent reason.  I can see hackers getting into the system and sending everybody that typed in church to a strip club and vice versa.  Oh the possibilities are infinite and epic!!!

Melvin I batted .500 on your poll.. plenty good for MLB

Still for botcars regardless

[Raptor]

From I, Robot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzg1mzwZDko&feature=related
Sorry I couldn't find a better quality video.

Cars would have the option to drive manually. I personally would want to control the car on short trips because it gives me something to do, but I can understand on long trips using the self drive option.



Think of it this way, the cars could cruise at speeds excess of 100mph safely and adjust itself to many situations. Safety features would be installed, say that if a person were swerving too much, the car could sense it and take over.

[Raptor]

wai wai waiiiiittttt!!!!!

Are the botcars going to be run on Windows?  Because if they are I guess you could be running along at 80 but have to shut down and restart every so often for no apparent reason. 

MAde by Google, so Android OS

[Melvin]

From I, Robot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzg1mzwZDko&feature=related
Sorry I couldn't find a better quality video.

Cars would have the option to drive manually. I personally would want to control the car on short trips because it gives me something to do, but I can understand on long trips using the self drive option.

(Image removed from quote.)

Think of it this way, the cars could cruise at speeds excess of 100mph safely and adjust itself to many situations. Safety features would be installed, say that if a person were swerving too much, the car could sense it and take over.

And how did that work for our hero?

<S> Melvin

[Raptor]

we're talking automated cars here, we have not introduced evil robots into the picture... yet

[Dichotomy]

oh great random ads running across the windshield based on my google searches.  Guess that scratches me ever giving anybody whose opinion I value a ride.. EVER.  

'Umm Dicho'
'Yes dear?'
'Why does your car get so many ads for sheep and gimp hoods?'
'I, I, I, I, let a friend use my computer.. no seriously'

[Melvin]

Yet.

It's a slippery slope. Before long we'll be........

Heck, nevermind. Drive your Botcars and stay the heck away from me. (Nothing personal, just gotta go fly now.)

To be continued.

<S> Melvin

[Melvin]

 

Dicho, for the win.

[trax1]

Well Trax, you make a good point. As long as human "system monitors" are still required.

Now, I pose this problem for you.

Imagine how many people in the insurance business would be out of work if it were determined that the odds of an "accident" on the roads was negligable.

I know, I know, nobody likes the insurance man. But, the fact is that it puts food on some people's table.

Basically, this tech would cost people's livelihoods.

I was thinking about this & I think it would have just the opposite effect on the insurance business, just because there are cars on the road now that can drive themselves doesn't mean every car will be, so your still going to have people who drive the car themselves, and they will cause accidents, now even if you have a car with the system you still will be driving that car from time to time yourself as well, your still going to need insurance on the chance your vehicle causes an accident, you'll also still want to have insurance on the chance your car is stolen, just because a car can drive itself doesn't mean people won't still steal them, or break into them.  The insurance company is still going to be charging you those premiums, maybe not as much as they do now, but they also won't be paying out as many claims, you see things tend to balance themselves out.