Thursday, May 29, 2014

Questions Surround Google's Self-Driving Car: "Can we Still be Impatient Assholes?"

"Will I still be able to speed and violently honk the horn?"
image found here
Google has a prototype for a self-driving car that doesn't have a steering wheel, gas pedal, or even brakes.  The car is automated and controlled by cameras, sensors and works alongside GPS.  Google is building this self-driving technology despite the fact that at least 50 percent of drivers would rather drive themselves in an anxiety and anger inducing car commute.  

Sharon Macao helped test drive one of the vehicles and said, "I really liked how simple the whole setup was. There's just a screen and you plunk in your coordinates and the car does the rest.  What I didn't like was that car just stopped when obstacles like bikers and pedestrians were in the way.  The car didn't even honk or encroach in their space to get them out of the way.  Am I really supposed to just sit back and relax in this car?"

People smiling and mellow during a vehicle commute, are you insane?

Vehicle testers pointed out other "design flaws":
  • Where's the setting to make the car go through red lights at the last second?
  • The car just goes the speed limit?  How can I make it go faster?
  • I really don't feel superior to other modes of transportation anymore.
  • Will I still be able to honk a horn when I get impatient and upset?
Google spokesman was asked if all these questions will put a damper on the fledgling industry.  They replied, "Until we somehow find a cheaper and more efficient way to move people around that leads to less congestion, improved health, and is less dangerous to pedestrians, we'll continue to create this technology for the consumer."

Google Engineer pondering how to make a fun, safer commute with proven health benefits.
image found here.

2 comments:

  1. Streets were designed for people driving angrily and thoughtlessly on the roads. That's what our taxes pay for! No. robots. allowed.

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    Replies
    1. you're damn right Rgeezy - we need to remember how streets were in the 50s, and keep them that way.

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