[fcb-l] Google testing cars that drive themselves!
Kirk
kvharmon54 at gmail.com
Sat Oct 23 17:22:09 GMT 2010
I so agree with you Chip! this fear is not just in our blind community with
this project, but with the sighted communities as well! I also believe
however, that it will come to pass someday in our future and we should never
stop researching the possibilities for this concept for all to enjoy after
us
! Your friend in the cause,
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange
To: fcb-l at acb.org
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: [fcb-l] Google testing cars that drive themselves!
Kirk,
oh, I don't think the technology is our problem; I'm sure you're right
there.
I think it's the current laws, which require a licensed driver. It's
going to be a very big deal to have them modified, and deal with the public
outcry which will occur from those who are scared by the idea of a car
"running a muck".
Chip
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From: fcb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:fcb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Kirk
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 7:14 AM
To: fcb-l at acb.org
Subject: Re: [fcb-l] Google testing cars that drive themselves!
Chip, true, but if we were to work with them with our techno geeks,
perhaps they could learn a way to modify them for us to use. I know the NFB
has been working on a self driven car for some time now
and making some great strides in our favor. So, I believe if our blind
community could find a way to work with google on this vehicle, it could be
modified for us in the near future! Your friend in the cause, Kirk-----
Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange
To: fcb-l at acb.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: [fcb-l] Google testing cars that drive themselves!
unfortunately, google says they never forsee a time when the cars would
be allowed to drive themselves, but only to operate like a cruise control,
giving a rest to a driver behind the wheel. they expect that's how they'll
be allowed to operate.
Chip
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From: fcb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:fcb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Kirk
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 4:30 PM
To: NFB of Florida Listserv
Cc: fcb-l at acb.org
Subject: [fcb-l] Google testing cars that drive themselves!
HI all, I found this testing quite interesting for the potential future
for our blinded citizens in the future! If only we could get our
independence with this type of technology, just think what we could do
again! Your friend in the cause, Kirk Google is testing cars that drive
themselves Google announced Sunday
that it has developed cars that drive themselves
automatically in traffic, and that it has been testing them on the
streets of California for months. It might seem like an unusual project
for Google, but it could actually have big benefits.
We're not just talking about cars running Google Android.
This is the stuff of science fiction. The only accident that has
occurred so far: One of the cars was rear-ended by a driver at a stop
light. Human error!
The vehicles have been tested on 140,000 miles of California road, from
Silicon Valley to Santa Monica.
Each car is manned during the tests. One person sits in the driver's
seat, ready to take control of the vehicle instantly by grabbing the
wheel or touch the brake should something go wrong with the system. The
person in the
passenger's seat is an engineer who monitors the software operations on
a
computer.
Google (Google) hired engineers who previously participated in
competitions and races involving automated cars -- important turning
points in the development of the technology, which has been coming into
its own since around 2005 according to The New York Times.
If your first concern is one of safety, Google would argue that you're
going about it all wrong.
Safety is one of the the project's purposes. Google believes that the
technology could nearly half the number of automobile-related deaths
because computers are supposedly
better at driving than humans in the right circumstances.
There are other hypothetical pluses, too. The vehicles' instant reaction
time and 360-degree awareness would allow them to drive closer together
on the highway than humans can, reducing traffic congestion. They could
be more
careful when operating the gas, reducing fuel consumption.
But the biggest benefit for Google would be the hour or so of daily
commute time the car owner would save. Instead of driving, he or she
could either be productive or entertained in the vehicle, doing work on
a wireless
Internet (Internet) connection or watching television.
Google doesn't say it explicitly, but TechCrunch was
quick to note that this time could be spent using Google products and
absorbing
Google-run advertising.
The most optimistic projections put this technology at least eight years
away from market, though. Legal hassles are among the myriad problems;
all of the current traffic laws assume that a human driver is present in
the vehicle
Kirk Harmon
President & CEO
Florida Disabled Citizens
for Progress
P.O.Box 61794
Jacksonville, FL 32236
PH(904) 783-9896
Cell: (407) 473-2176
DAV/BVA
Life Member
" TURNING HOPE INTO REALITY"
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