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As a pedestrian and driver I find it useful to see the faces of other drivers. When walking across the road I try to make eye contract with the driver to make

by ape4 9y ago

As a pedestrian and driver I find it useful to see the faces of other drivers. When walking across the road I try to make eye contract with the driver to make sure they see me. Doesn't seem possible with self driving cars. If a display in the driver's seat could make "eye contact" then display my photo with a checkmark - to say "I see you" I'm be more happy about walking in front.

maxerickson 9y ago
I've thought about this too. I think a highly directional light that can be aimed will work better than a display. The car can just point the light at pedestrians that it has recognized. The hard part is a fast and reliable mechanism for the pointing. I guess an array of lights has the advantage of no moving parts and the capability to show recognition to multiple pedestrians.
- ape4 9y ago
  That could work. There should be something. If only in the early years so people get used trusting SDCs (self driving cars)
- adrianmonk 9y ago
  If you want to shine a light at a particular spot, just use whatever technologies are used in video projectors. Except for the fact that you are aiming at different distances, it's the same problem.
kjksf 9y ago
Do you want to make an "eye contact" with an elevator to make sure it won't crush you by closing the doors? Your behavior is a hedge against crappy humans that tend to be distracted and not see everything. If self-driving cars can't avoid hitting people, they are failing the most basic scenario and can't be allowed on the road.
- ape4 9y ago
  I feel self driving cars need to do everything humans do and then 10x better to succeed. Indicating that they see you is something that humans do now. Here's an article saying eye contact is the reason the amount of window tinting is limited. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ontario-limits-amount-of-allowable-window-tint-cyclists-rejoice-1.3657694 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ontario-limits-amount-...
  - jogjayr 9y ago
    > I feel self driving cars need to do everything humans do and then 10x better to succeed I hope that's not the case. Even if self-driving cars are only as good as the median human driver, a universal rollout of that tech would save countless lives. I really hope that when the first self-driving fatality happens the media or public fear doesn't blow it out of proportion.
euyyn 9y ago
There's an opportunity here to do better than human drivers too. An autonomous car will always acknowledge you, and the display for that could be put outside the car, in a way that the pedestrian always sees it. You're not always able to see the face of a human driver, depending on the light conditions.
Noumenon72 9y ago
As a bicyclist, I was taught that just because someone's face was turned in your direction doesn't mean you can tell what they are focusing on. My brother got run into by someone who pulled out after making "eye contact". I go around behind every time, like I'm invisible.

by ape4 9y ago

maxerickson 9y ago

I've thought about this too. I think a highly directional light that can be aimed will work better than a display. The car can just point the light at pedestrians that it has recognized. The hard part is a fast and reliable mechanism for the pointing. I guess an array of lights has the advantage of no moving parts and the capability to show recognition to multiple pedestrians.

ape4 9y ago
That could work. There should be something. If only in the early years so people get used trusting SDCs (self driving cars)
adrianmonk 9y ago
If you want to shine a light at a particular spot, just use whatever technologies are used in video projectors. Except for the fact that you are aiming at different distances, it's the same problem.

kjksf 9y ago

Do you want to make an "eye contact" with an elevator to make sure it won't crush you by closing the doors? Your behavior is a hedge against crappy humans that tend to be distracted and not see everything. If self-driving cars can't avoid hitting people, they are failing the most basic scenario and can't be allowed on the road.

ape4 9y ago
I feel self driving cars need to do everything humans do and then 10x better to succeed. Indicating that they see you is something that humans do now. Here's an article saying eye contact is the reason the amount of window tinting is limited. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ontario-limits-amount-of-allowable-window-tint-cyclists-rejoice-1.3657694 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ontario-limits-amount-...
- jogjayr 9y ago
  > I feel self driving cars need to do everything humans do and then 10x better to succeed I hope that's not the case. Even if self-driving cars are only as good as the median human driver, a universal rollout of that tech would save countless lives. I really hope that when the first self-driving fatality happens the media or public fear doesn't blow it out of proportion.

euyyn 9y ago

There's an opportunity here to do better than human drivers too. An autonomous car will always acknowledge you, and the display for that could be put outside the car, in a way that the pedestrian always sees it. You're not always able to see the face of a human driver, depending on the light conditions.

Noumenon72 9y ago

As a bicyclist, I was taught that just because someone's face was turned in your direction doesn't mean you can tell what they are focusing on. My brother got run into by someone who pulled out after making "eye contact". I go around behind every time, like I'm invisible.