The race to bring driverless cars to the masses is only just beginning, but already it is a fight for the ages. The competition is fierce, secretive, and elite. It pits Apple against Google against Tesla against Uber: all titans of Silicon Valley, in many ways as enigmatic as they are revered.
As these technology giants zero in on the car industry, global automakers are being forced to dramatically rethink what it means to build a vehicle for the first time in a century. Aspects of this race evoke several pivotal moments in technological history: the construction of railroads, the dawn of electric light, the birth of the automobile, the beginning of aviation. There's no precedent for what engineers are trying to build now, and no single blueprint for how to build it.
Self-driving cars promise to create a new kind of leisure, offering passengers additional time for reading books, writing email, knitting, practicing an instrument, cracking open a beer, taking a catnap, and any number of other diversions. Peope who are unable to drive themselves could experience a new kind of independence. And self-driving cars could re-contextualize land-use on massive scales. In this imagined mobility utopia, drone trucks would haul packages across the country and no human would have to circle a city block in search of a parking spot.
If self-driving vehicles deliver on their promises, they will save millions of lives over the course of a few decades, destroy and create entire industries, and fundamentally change the human relationship with space and time. All of which is why some of the planet's most valuable companies are pouring billions of dollars into the effort to build driverless cars.
After automation puts everyone out of work, will anyone need to drive anywhere anymore?
(Score: 1, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @02:37PM
Sure, for those who don't suffer from motion sickness.
I hate being a passenger in a car, not only do I feel sick while driving, it takes a couple of hours before I stop feeling sick.
Those who don't get motion sickness have been able to do this stuff on the bus for half a century (possibly except practicing an instrument), and I don't see buses being popular except as a way to get people to buy a car.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @02:50PM
Why not practice playing the bagpipes while you're a passenger. That way you won't be the only one who feels sick and they'll insist that you to drive.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @03:07PM
I don't get motion sickness unless I try to read as a passenger.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @09:53PM
If you read while driving you're fine?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Vanderhoth on Wednesday December 16 2015, @03:25PM
The issue with buses, or trains for that matter, is they don't go DIRECTLY where you want and they take a long time to get you there because of all the stops they make in between. It's a 1.5 hour bus trip from my house to work, and 1.5 hours to get home, where the nearest bus stop from my office is a 15 minute walk. 3 hours a day using the bus. It's a 15 minute drive one way, 30 minutes a day in a car.
Then there's all the other downsides of using public transport. In my city you're not allowed to take drinks or food on the bus (a driver wouldn't even let me on with a sealed travel mug once). I understand why, but it's inconvenient. There's also a shit ton of sick people you come in contact everyday on public transport. Every surface you touch has had someone cough or sneeze all over it. Also standing next to someone with bad hygiene or wearing too much perfume for 45 minutes. Rude power crazed bus drivers. Rude, disrespectful, sometimes violent, passages. Buses not making their connections. The list goes on.
The only upside to taking the bus for me was it was cheaper than owning a car. That said with bus pass increases over the last several years, and the fact I own my car now and only pay insurance, maintenance and gas, it's almost on par to own a car than to take the bus. Plus my wife and I carpool so it ends up costing less as we're not paying for two bus passes, and our Daughter is almost the age where she'd need a child's pass so... Hard to argue you're even saving money.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @03:59PM
Suck on a mint.
I recently came across this. I am mr 'i am going to blarf if I dont drive'. This has worked wonders. I learned it from a pregnant lady who was getting morning sickness. Dont know why it works. Dont care. It just does.
(Score: 2) by SecurityGuy on Wednesday December 16 2015, @04:45PM
The problem with buses are that they're less comfortable than cars, they're slower than cars, and they don't go between any random two points like a car can. Self-driving cars should be able to do all three.
(Score: 2) by inertnet on Wednesday December 16 2015, @05:17PM
Try looking outside. I'm serious. Motion sickness comes from your eyes telling you different things from your vestibular system. By looking outside (to the horizon if in a boat) you make those information streams match again in your brain.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @05:26PM
Self-driving cars promise to create a new kind of leisure, offering passengers additional time for reading books, writing email, knitting, practicing an instrument, cracking open a beer, taking a catnap, and any number of other diversions.
Sure, for those who don't suffer from motion sickness.
I hate being a passenger in a car, not only do I feel sick while driving, it takes a couple of hours before I stop feeling sick.
Those who don't get motion sickness have been able to do this stuff on the bus for half a century (possibly except practicing an instrument), and I don't see buses being popular except as a way to get people to buy a car.
I don't get motion sick easily but I do find it very difficult to do any reading or work inside any moving vehicle. I hate being a passenger in general due to suddenly getting tossed around because I wasn't paying attention and didn't notice a turn coming up, or that we'll suddenly be slowing down. As the driver you know what is going on an your muscles unconsciously tense up to brace your body, while a passenger is simply ragdoll, especially when trying to take a nap.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @06:19PM
motion sickness
Same here. The only time I will allow myself to be a passenger is after the zombie invasion. With me holding a gun out the window shooting zombies in the head while someone else drives the vehicle.