[nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Fri Apr 12 02:41:26 UTC 2013

I also totally support the car.  Even if I am never able to obtain one; I
absolutely support the car.  At some point, we will also be able to drive
just like the sighted.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sam Nelson
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 12:55 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Hi Peter,
 I agree with you about supporting something even if personally you may not
use it. I doubt I'd ever have the money for this car, and I'd want to make
sure it was as safe as possible  before even being in it, but I totally
support the car being out there for those that can get it  and am behind
anyone who wants one. 
 Sam 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 8:04 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Good morning everyone,

    One thing we should keep in mind is that certain issues or choices may
not be important to an individual but they are very significant to others. 
You may not want a car of your own to drive but get behind our efforts to
develop a vehicle drivable by a blind person for those who want that choice
and all that comes with it. Maybe you don't mind sitting around waiting for
a bus or a paratransit vehicle to show up but others live busy lives and
would benefit from having their own transportation they can use at their
convenience and not be limited to living in areas where public
transportation is available.

Peter Donahue

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Sophie Trist" <sweetpeareader at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 6:44 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Carly, with all due respect, I strongly disagree with you. Having to rely on
public transportation severely limits us. If you want super reliable PT, you
have to live in a big city. I've been experimenting with the PT in my
hometown, and it isn't always on time. I do not want to live in a big
city--I'm more of a small town kind of girl.

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>,National Association of Blind Students mailing
list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:32:30 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Hi, List,

On the other hand, for my whole life I have watched sighted folk seem to
agonize over so much turmoil, and hostility towrd their fellow man, as they
drive. I have always been grateful not having that crap to contend with.
Besides, I am not confident about chances of ever affording such a car. And,
I don't care about the principles personal cars supposedly afford. Where can
they take you that a bus, train, or friend/driver cannot?
  Ultimately, i believe traveling from point A to point B, oughta be a
communal affair. Leave the driving to ol' Sighty!
So no, on the car!
Car At 06:23 PM 4/11/2013, Sophie Trist wrote:
I can't wait to see these google cars come out. It will be a major milestone
in the independence and assimulation of blind people in sighted society. My
only worry is that the sighties won't trust us to drive, even (maybe
especially) if the car was computer-controlled. Even my boyfriend, who is
blind, says he will never trust a self-propelled car. Our trouble will be
convincing them that it's safe for us and for others on the road.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:02:08 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Hello,
The reason why the Google Car is Superior is because it is already going
mainstream, it has a major company behind it and there is nothing wrong with
backing both cars.
The big debate will be if people want to drive under their own control or a
computers. It is not unlike reading Braille or using a screen reader to read
a book. Braille is all fine and dandy, but a screen reader is very
important. The difference is the Google car is going mainstream and will
have mainstreem support. It would be the same if Jaws went mainstreem and
companies like Google started making units that used Jaws and no screen.
Braille would be useful, but not particularly necessary for most common
tasks.
If one used a car on city roads and highways, there would be very little or
no need to manually drive. If one wanted to map a long driveway or country
road, one would need to manually drive it till the road could be completely
entered into the database.
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message-----
From: Sophie Trist
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 1:37 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Brandon, I totally 100% agree!!! However, didn't the NFB invent a
self-propelled car of sorts? If so, it might be hard to convince them to
back the google car unless we can prove theirs is superior.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:05:01 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Hello,
Yes in a way, the logistics of liability still need to be taken into account
I'm sure and licensing probably still needs to be worked out, but if the
government officials are pushed, it will happen very soon.
I think the NFB should push for these quite hard. Perhaps they could even
ask that a car come to the convention, I think Google would take the
challenge.
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Young
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:13 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

So does this mean these vehicles will soon be on the market for individuals
to purchase in Nevada?  Sounds like a very interesting project.

On 4/11/13, Robert William Kingett <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:
Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the
state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first
autonomous vehicle license.

The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson
City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said
in a statement.

The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's
roads, the first such law in the United States. That law went into effect on
March 1, 2012.

Google's self-driven cars rely on video cameras, radar sensors, lasers, and
a database of information collected from manually driven cars to help
navigate, according to the company.

The DMV licensed a Toyota Prius that Google modified with its experimental
driver-less technology, developed by Stanford professor and Google Vice
President Sebastian Thrun.

Google's self-driving cars have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and driven
along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway, according to the company.

Autonomous vehicles are the "car of the future," Nevada DMV director Bruce
Breslow said in a statement. The state also has plans to eventually license
autonomous vehicles owned by the members of the public, the DMV said.

Legislation to regulate autonomous cars is being considered in other states,
including Google's home state of California.

"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error.
Through
the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is
capable of analyzing the driving environment more quickly and operating the
vehicle more safely," California state Senator Alex Padilla said in March
when he introduced that state's autonomous car legislation.

Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licenses in Nevada, the
DMV said.

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