4 ms·

Driving a car is absolutely the most dangerous activity most people regularly participate in. I don't think you're saying anything controversial there.

mulmen 7y ago
Right so any time a computer can take over is a good thing because computers don’t get bored.
- makomk 7y ago
  That doesn't follow, because making the human supervise the computer as it takes over rather than actively participating increases the risk of them getting bored and losing attention.
  - mulmen 7y ago
    Do we know that though? Is a distracted auto pilot driver more dangerous than the average person in a car without any aids?
- mattkrause 7y ago
  Not always. The computer focuses better, but isn’t yet as capable. When things get dicey and the computer abruptly hands control back to a zoned-out human, they won’t have the same situational awareness as if they had been driving all along. OTOH, driving also tires humans out, which leads to errors and accidents too. Figuring out the right balance is non-trivial.
  - mulmen 7y ago
    Maybe. It may be the case as other commenters in this thread have said that the automation actually lets them prepare for unexpected events more than normal because it handles the mundane steering and speed adjustments.
    - mattkrause 7y ago
      That seems very, very unlikely to me. I can imagine that being able to relax on the highway makes subsequent high-stress city driving a little more bearable, but people are really bad at going from zoned-out to action mode quickly.
      - mulmen 7y ago
        I'm challenging the assumption that driving aids cause drivers to "zone out" any more than normal driving. Driving automation has been common for decades in the form of cruise control. I don't see anyone making the claim that using it makes you "zone out". Auto Pilot is just an evolution of this that handles the steering too. Drivers still need to drive and be engaged.

mulmen 7y ago

Right so any time a computer can take over is a good thing because computers don’t get bored.

makomk 7y ago
That doesn't follow, because making the human supervise the computer as it takes over rather than actively participating increases the risk of them getting bored and losing attention.
- mulmen 7y ago
  Do we know that though? Is a distracted auto pilot driver more dangerous than the average person in a car without any aids?
mattkrause 7y ago
Not always. The computer focuses better, but isn’t yet as capable. When things get dicey and the computer abruptly hands control back to a zoned-out human, they won’t have the same situational awareness as if they had been driving all along. OTOH, driving also tires humans out, which leads to errors and accidents too. Figuring out the right balance is non-trivial.
- mulmen 7y ago
  Maybe. It may be the case as other commenters in this thread have said that the automation actually lets them prepare for unexpected events more than normal because it handles the mundane steering and speed adjustments.
  - mattkrause 7y ago
    That seems very, very unlikely to me. I can imagine that being able to relax on the highway makes subsequent high-stress city driving a little more bearable, but people are really bad at going from zoned-out to action mode quickly.
    - mulmen 7y ago
      I'm challenging the assumption that driving aids cause drivers to "zone out" any more than normal driving. Driving automation has been common for decades in the form of cruise control. I don't see anyone making the claim that using it makes you "zone out". Auto Pilot is just an evolution of this that handles the steering too. Drivers still need to drive and be engaged.