[Blindtlk] The Cost of Independent Travel

[Lloyd Rasmussen]

I am on the NFB R&D Committee, where we have discussed this project
forseveral years.  Dr. Maurer or Mark Riccobono would have to give you
specifics, but I don't think that we have had to spend very much money on
the blind driver challenge so far.  We are concentrating some effort on
getting engineering students to work on projects which would be beneficial
to us, and this is one area where this effort is working.  Our leaders take
risks, but they are prudent.  And rapid access to tactile graphics may open
up some employment opportunities even if driving doesn't pan out in the near
future.

Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, Maryland
Home:  http://lras.home.sprynet.com
Work:  http://www.loc.gov/nls
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Brian Miller
> Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 5:37 PM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] The Cost of Independent Travel
> 
> Hi Dave,
> 
> I totally agree that just because something is difficult, or because
> sighted
> folks say it just can't be done, doesn't mean we shouldn't try it.
> However,
> we are not an organization with infinite resources, and we must choose
> carefully what it is we will  commitment our limited resources to.
> 
> I'm sure our leadership has considered this, and is well aware of the
> range
> and scope of choices to be made, and the impact such choices will have on
> our resources.
> 
> I wish those of us in the organization who are not directly involved in
> this
> effort knew how much of our resources will b committed to this endeavor --
> how much time, how much money, how much person-power.  Perhaps this
> information is out there and I've just missed it, but as yet I haven't
> seen
> such a breakdown of the resources we've committed or will commit.
> 
> Again, this doesn't mean we shouldn't do it, it just means we need to be
> aware of what the consequences will be to making such a choice -- i.e.,
> this
> is important enough that we've committed X amount of whatever to the
> effort,
> and as such, it also means we may have less for something else.
> 
> Best always,
> 
> Brian Miller
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of David Andrews
> Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 4:25 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] The Cost of Independent Travel
> 
> A number of people here have pointed out problems with developing a car
> that
> blind persons could drive.  It seems to me that the tone of some of these
> messages, if not the words, is that this is something we shouldn't do
> because of this and that.
> 
> For sure, there are lots of problems ahead of us.  However, one can choose
> to see these as challenges and opportunities, not disabling problems.  We
> can always find reasons not to do something.  Doing it is harder because
> we
> must go against conventional wisdom.  However if we had accepted what
> sighted people said we could do, or not do, all along, we would still be
> in
> the dark ages, literally and figuratively.
> 
> Dave
> 
> At 08:32 AM 8/26/2010, you wrote:
> >Hi Ray,
> >
> >I do think you make some good points, and I have thought of these
> >questions myself. I understand the underlying purpose of the
> >project, but there are a lot of problems to be worked out before it
> >is even remotely possible. I do think there are much more productive
> >things that we could be doing with the funds that are being put into
> >this project.
> >
> >I go back and forth on this issue. Mostly though, I wish the
> >organization were putting its money somewhere else.