5 ms·
I wonder what they will do about claustrophobia? > The capsule itself would need to be small—4.43ft (1.35m) wide and only 3.61ft (1.10m) high. No standing room
by imglorp 11y ago
I wonder what they will do about claustrophobia?
> The capsule itself would need to be small—4.43ft (1.35m) wide and only 3.61ft (1.10m) high. No standing room
No windows, pod inside a metal tube, seats reclined with minimal head room. There's no rational reason to panic in that position, but many people will not be comfortable. Video displays might help, but only to a point.
- cloudwalking 11y agoVR goggles.
- unoti 11y agoI was about to say that sounds even more vomit-inducing, when you consider all the g-forces going on, and then add goggles on top of it. But then, if the g-forces match what the passenger is seeing through the goggles, that could actually be less vomit-inducing maybe? It's an interesting idea. I personally find the idea of spending an hour in a tiny enclosed space with no ability to move to be quite disturbing, and I'm not sure if the idea of doing it with VR goggles makes that less disturbing or more.
- andrewchambers 11y agoWhy are there lots of G forces? once you are at cruising speed it might not feel like you are moving at all.
- Andrenid 11y agoVR goggles displaying a view of outside, maybe recorded from a plane that flew the same path then synced to your location to simulate your actual trip. The feeling to your body would then match the view too.
- capkutay 11y agoInnovation like this requires some getting used to from consumers. I'm sure people thought fear of heights would be a problem for commercial airlines when they started up. Early adopters have to be fearless and then it will become mainstream once everyone perceives it as safe and normal.
- hughes 11y agoAt 600MPH, I'm not sure I'd want to see the ground speeding past a few feet below...
- stcredzero 11y ago"Commuter Luge"
- mrfusion 11y agoI've been worried about the same thing. Also the idea that if the pod stops you have no way out for hundreds of miles.
- socceroos 11y agoI'm pretty sure the plan would include service access every few KM.
- imglorp 11y agoSomehow that's a little more scary. It's not clear how the hatch on a stopped pod would open between service points, if at all. So you're stuck in the pod, possibly with no lights or power either to the pod or the tubeway in the case of damage. Rescuers have to enter at the station and travel some KM to the pod, how, by crawling? If they need a rescue pod, it would have to be lifted from the ground to the service door, so they need a crane now; that's more hours. Then there's the small matter of air supply for passengers.
- thrill 11y agoPod proposals (more like musings at this point) I've read include sufficient self contained locomotion ability to move slowly between egress points.
- icc97 11y agoThis is actually fairly close to the Eurotunnel between England and France. There are windows in the trains but they are very small and entirely useless for the 30 minutes whilst you're inside the tunnel. In the Eurotunnel you have to remain in your car - i.e. no standing.