Posted on 05/30/2014 11:13:25 PM PDT by Lmo56
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) -- About four years ago, the Google team trying to develop cars driven by computers - not people - concluded that sooner than later, the technology would be ready for the masses. There was one big problem: No state had even considered whether driverless cars should be legal.
And yet this week, Google said it wants to give Californians access to a small fleet of prototypes it will make without a steering wheel or pedals.
The plan is possible because, by this time next year, driverless cars will be legal in the tech giant's home state.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Just because you can ... doesn't mean you should"
I can see a dozen ways this can go sideways. To name a few:
1. What happens when the computer system hoses up on the freeway when all the traffic is moving 60 mph and there is a car riding your ass ???
2. You want to get to Golden Gate Park in SF and the GPS system makes a last minute left turn and puts you into the Pacific Ocean.
3. The computer system craps out, you have an accident [which would be your fault] - who gets sued ??? You, Google ???
Yup. Good old fashioned axle grease.
Insurance companies’ and auto accident attorneys will be all over Google. Can you imagine the settlements plaintiffs will get when one of the Google vehicles malfunctions and causes a 20 car pileup complete with Mack trucks and decapitations? If you want to bankrupt a company go right ahead though I have a sneaking suspicion that Google’s intent was to market this to trucking companies so they wouldn’t have to pay salaries. I bet they were already projecting profits on this endeavor.
I think this is for slow speed use, but still. It will take only one visible duck-up to give Google a black eye.
I envision that if/when there is such a thing, Microsoft with its Bing will release a statement to the effect that while Microsoft software is good enough to translate spoken language in real time, they do not attempt to drive cars with it. Google must be AWFULLY confident in this. The bad publicity could hurt them worse than anything crazy they have done with their browser.
“sooner than later” ? Oh well, “sooner rather than later” didn’t really make sense either.
4. A computer virus is introduced into the traffic system.
That will probably not hurt Linux too much.
Trial Lawyers can’t wait to access Google’s deep pockets. You betcha they are in favor of this!
“We hope you enjoyed the ride.”
Just something to ponder...if I could instantly transform the entire system, that is all traffic everywhere, to driverless...would you want me to first show that the new system would result in zero accidents? Or would it be enough for me to show that the new system would result in fewer accidents than what we have now?
I’m sorta debating this with myself...
Things that can also go wrong:
A playful three year old, or child of any age enters this car in CA and ends up in Kansas.
A “dear leader” has a temper tantrum and programs all conservative owned cars to drive into the ocean, off a cliff or straight to a fema camp.
Ponder this:
Presently, do cars cause accidents or the drivers?
Right now it’s the drivers. With this goofle car, the OS in the cars will cause accidents.
Well, there is your pocket. And there are deep pockets (may or may not be you). And there are Very Deep Pockets (probably not you).
After all, GPS starts with G, doesn't it? So, the lawyers will pile on the one who starts with G!
Some men on this planet seem to think that computers can do a better job than a human which might be true for menial repetitive tasks but when it comes right down to it we are much more than computers will ever be. The athiest scientists are saddened that they cannot do a better job than God who they say doesn’t exist yet use his handiwork as their yardstick.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.