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I'm sure that the many elderly and disabled individuals who are currently unable to drive themselves would be very interested in a fully autonomous car. If the

I'm sure that the many elderly and disabled individuals who are currently unable to drive themselves would be very interested in a fully autonomous car. If they're not asking for it, it may only be because they're not aware it's something possible to ask for. In many areas of the US, not being able to drive is a pretty major impediment to quality of life. This technology could transform many peoples daily lives.

yardie 16y ago
Elderly?! Hah, it practically takes a court order for the elderly to stop driving. In Florida, it's quite common for a pedestrian to be hit and killed by the elderly. Then the public outrage commences for a few months. Laws are crafted and then die in the state senate. Why? because the elderly don't want someone restricting how they drive and they constitute the largest (and getting larger) voting block. The disabled market I could see going for this, but if Dean Kamen can't even sell a 5000 stair climbing robot wheelchair to this market how is a $50-60k car going to fair? Besides, if someone is so disabled that they can't currently get somewhere they probably aren't in a position to get in the car in the first place. I'm specifically talking about the people that require ambulance service. And people always miss out on the human element of these technologies. You know why the FAA don't allow UAVs in controlled airspace? Because the pilot unions won't allow it. Currently, these cars are only allowed on the road if a licensed driver is in the car. Well the people that need them can't get a license. Think that's going to change? Not if the taxi, limousine, or trunk drivers union have a say about it. Google may have lobbyists, but they won't stand a chance against the AFL, CIO, or Teamsters. So my hypothesis still stands. You'll see assistive technologies long before you'll see a mass-produced automated car.

yardie 16y ago

Elderly?! Hah, it practically takes a court order for the elderly to stop driving. In Florida, it's quite common for a pedestrian to be hit and killed by the elderly. Then the public outrage commences for a few months. Laws are crafted and then die in the state senate. Why? because the elderly don't want someone restricting how they drive and they constitute the largest (and getting larger) voting block. The disabled market I could see going for this, but if Dean Kamen can't even sell a 5000 stair climbing robot wheelchair to this market how is a $50-60k car going to fair? Besides, if someone is so disabled that they can't currently get somewhere they probably aren't in a position to get in the car in the first place. I'm specifically talking about the people that require ambulance service. And people always miss out on the human element of these technologies. You know why the FAA don't allow UAVs in controlled airspace? Because the pilot unions won't allow it. Currently, these cars are only allowed on the road if a licensed driver is in the car. Well the people that need them can't get a license. Think that's going to change? Not if the taxi, limousine, or trunk drivers union have a say about it. Google may have lobbyists, but they won't stand a chance against the AFL, CIO, or Teamsters. So my hypothesis still stands. You'll see assistive technologies long before you'll see a mass-produced automated car.