Comments on: The Automated Car’s on the way http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/ Chrysler, car, and other discussions by Allpar contributors Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:27:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: bzpaxer http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-16105 bzpaxer Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:07:18 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/#comment-16105 If automated driving technology and smart highways completely relieve us of the act of driving will we be absolved of the responsibility to not drink and drive? If the vision coems to fruition why not hop in the back seat of your car for cocktails on the way home? If automated driving technology and smart highways completely relieve us of the act of driving will we be absolved of the responsibility to not drink and drive? If the vision coems to fruition why not hop in the back seat of your car for cocktails on the way home?

]]> By: Patrick Lynch http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-3693 Patrick Lynch Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:46:35 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/#comment-3693 I've been hearing about the automated cars and highways ever since I was a kid in the 1960's. The articles in the magazines were always saying "by the year 2000" this or that would happen. So far, no flying cars either. For the fact that it has not happened yet, I am grateful. I think technology has gotten to be much like the Industrial Revolution in the 1850's when people were overwhelmed by automation and the fear it generated of being replaced by a machine. I think the fear was well placed but possibly for different reasons, the first among them being that technology will turn the majority of people into passive spectators instead of being involved in life. Where is the need to strive for something better? Maybe I've watched too much Star Trek, but I'm inclined to think that civilisations that forget what technology is for tend to collapse. I'm all for technology that serves as tools that enable human beings to reach for something greater, but the pace of change is outstripping the ability of people to keep up with it. I find myself agreeing with a great many of Curtis Redgap's comments. (the automatic choke, hydraulic brakes and the Chrysler electronic ignition were three of my favourite improvements to cars that made sense.) The original Star Trek took up this idea with the episode called the Ultimate Computer which explored the limits of automation and where we fit into that expressing in the 1960's the same worries about technology that we are today. As for public transportation, Dave is spot on. Lexington,KY had a great interurban rail system that not only got you around town but also took you to nearby communities. Worked beautifully until the 1930's when the above named eliminated it. Had it still been in place, I wouldn't need to drive my car to work. I can walk to work faster than the bus system can get me there. Cars that can park themselves? No thanks. I see everyday what happens when technology wears out and fails or has one of those famous "computer glitches" I’ve been hearing about the automated cars and highways ever since I was a kid in the 1960’s. The articles in the magazines were always saying “by the year 2000″ this or that would happen. So far, no flying cars either. For the fact that it has not happened yet, I am grateful. I think technology has gotten to be much like the Industrial Revolution in the 1850’s when people were overwhelmed by automation and the fear it generated of being replaced by a machine. I think the fear was well placed but possibly for different reasons, the first among them being that technology will turn the majority of people into passive spectators instead of being involved in life. Where is the need to strive for something better? Maybe I’ve watched too much Star Trek, but I’m inclined to think that civilisations that forget what technology is for tend to collapse. I’m all for technology that serves as tools that enable human beings to reach for something greater, but the pace of change is outstripping the ability of people to keep up with it. I find myself agreeing with a great many of Curtis Redgap’s comments. (the automatic choke, hydraulic brakes and the Chrysler electronic ignition were three of my favourite improvements to cars that made sense.) The original Star Trek took up this idea with the episode called the Ultimate Computer which explored the limits of automation and where we fit into that expressing in the 1960’s the same worries about technology that we are today.

As for public transportation, Dave is spot on. Lexington,KY had a great interurban rail system that not only got you around town but also took you to nearby communities. Worked beautifully until the 1930’s when the above named eliminated it. Had it still been in place, I wouldn’t need to drive my car to work. I can walk to work faster than the bus system can get me there.

Cars that can park themselves? No thanks. I see everyday what happens when technology wears out and fails or has one of those famous “computer glitches”

]]> By: Dave http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1926 Dave Sat, 07 Oct 2006 23:37:20 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/#comment-1926 People did plan and it did exist - you may recall GM, Ford, Firestone, and Goodyear together eliminated them all. People did plan and it did exist - you may recall GM, Ford, Firestone, and Goodyear together eliminated them all.

]]> By: Curtis Redgap http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/comment-page-1/#comment-1912 Curtis Redgap Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:29:51 +0000 http://www.allpar.com/weblogs/2006/10/05/the-automated-cars-on-the-way/#comment-1912 And about public transportation, in places where it does exist, it is hardly handy nor attrative to use. I would like nothing better (after having spent some summers driving part time on those great busses) than to be able to connect directly with a bus, and let someone else drive me to and from work! My grandson and I love the Disney World Monorail system, and I would like to see something like that start to connect all areas. Many of the Disney cars have gone over 2 million miles! Imagine. And that is based on something that the fertile mind of Walt Disney introduced in 1960!! Yes, 1960! We didn't plan well enough to include public transportation in large areas of the country. Our intercity bus system is now down to Greyhound, and Amtrak, if you don't like to fly. But to get to Disney world to my house or vice versa, there is no means for me, unless I drive several miles to try to catch a city bus. Then I have to ride over an hour to get to downtown, and then another hour and a half to get to WDW. Not convenient nor pleasant. Shame. We can and should do better. And about public transportation, in places where it does exist, it is hardly handy nor attrative to use. I would like nothing better (after having spent some summers driving part time on those great busses) than to be able to connect directly with a bus, and let someone else drive me to and from work! My grandson and I love the Disney World Monorail system, and I would like to see something like that start to connect all areas. Many of the Disney cars have gone over 2 million miles! Imagine. And that is based on something that the fertile mind of Walt Disney introduced in 1960!! Yes, 1960! We didn’t plan well enough to include public transportation in large areas of the country. Our intercity bus system is now down to Greyhound, and Amtrak, if you don’t like to fly. But to get to Disney world to my house or vice versa, there is no means for me, unless I drive several miles to try to catch a city bus. Then I have to ride over an hour to get to downtown, and then another hour and a half to get to WDW. Not convenient nor pleasant. Shame. We can and should do better.

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