[nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Joshua Lester
JLester8462 at pccua.edu
Mon Apr 15 11:49:18 UTC 2013
It was on the runway at Daytona, two years ago.
The car should be out by 2016.
Blessings, Joshua
________________________________________
From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Sophie Trist [sweetpeareader at gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 6:44 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Joshua, I guess I can't talk much about this since I never
actually saw the NFB car in action, but from what I've heard,
that autonomous vehicle was a bit disappointing. Besides, I've
only heard about it one time, at convention a few years ago.
Since then, nothing has been heard of the NFB car--it's just
disappeared. Right now, the google car is looking a lot more
promising. I support the NFB to my core, but if there's another
product that serves better than an NFB product (like a Revolution
cane, for example) I won't hesitate to get it. Also, I have one
question about the google cars. Do they run on gas or
electricity?
----- Original Message -----
From: Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:25:35 +0000
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Wow, Peter!
Like minds huh?
I just posted this same link on here a few minutes ago!
Thanks, Joshua
________________________________________
From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Peter
Donahue [pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 5:23 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Good afternoon one more time everyone,
Better yet visit http://www.blinddriverchallenge.org
There's lots of information about our efforts to develop this
technology
along with videos showing a blind person driving the car on the
track at
Daytona Beach. The technology and the possibilities have all
ready been
demonstrated. I also understand that several blind individuals
have driven
the car on the streets of Baltimore with success.We all need to
unite and
work with whomever will partner with us be it Google or someone
else to
insure that any self-driving vehicle that is developed is
controllable by a
blind person and that our right to operate such vehicles is
protected. We
don't need the very people who stand to benefit from the freedom
and
empowerment such a vehicle could give us undermining such a noble
initiative.
Peter Donahue
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Amen, Patrick!
Chris Nusbaum, Co-Chair
Public Relations Committee
Maryland Association of Blind Students
Phone: (443) 547-2409
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Patrick Molloy
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 3:27 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
I'm sorry Ashley, but I completely and wholeheartedly disagree
with you.
When NTSB executives are saying that autonomous cars are the way
to go,
don't you think they deserve some credence? I honestly lost faith
in the NFB
car. Sure it was "made for blind people," but you barely ever saw
the thing!
If you're going to make a car for the blind, don't hide it away
from the
public and then give no explanation when it essentially
disappears. I'm not
saying that the Google car would be perfect. I'm not fooling
myself with
that idea. But, I think that the technology is really impressive
and, with
some modifications, it will be great for blind people. But hey!
If you want
to always wait around for a driver, or a bus, or paratransit,
more power to
you. It just seems like this all runs counter to the philosophy
that many
people within the NFB preach daily. As for your arguments as to
why blind
people shouldn't drive, I think if you read the articles about
the potential
of autonomous cars, you'll find most if not all of your fears
more or less
assuaged. Just because something SEEMS difficult is no reason for
us blind
people to avoid it like the plague. That would be ridiculous! If
I decide
not to get this car, it would only be after I'd tried it out and
found it
not to my liking. Since the NFB car is more or less dead, I feel
that we as
blind people have a responsibility to get behind the Google car
in one way
or another.
Isn't that what the NFB always says? That they're there for blind
people
when we need something? Well, we need to get around and we're
tired of
waiting like kids for our parents to pick us up from soccer
practice! If
we're going to be independent, successful individuals, then we
should have
the right to get around just like our sighted colleagues.
Separate is not
equal in this case. You may never drive this thing, and you may
think it
ridiculous, but I highly encourage people like yourself and Carly
to at
least consider the point of view of those of us who want to drive
like our
brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. You may think us
self-serving,
but doesn't that make sighted people self-serving? I mean, they
can take a
bus too! The issue here is choice. We shouldn't HAVE to take a
bus if we
don't want to wait 2 hours. Now, if it's a nice day and you've
got time to
kill, hey! Spend 5 hours going to the doctor! But we should have
the same
freedom that all sighted people have. With that freedom will come
the
realization that blind people can do the same things as sighted
people.
Patrick
On 4/14/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
Hi all,
I haven't read all this thread much. But from what I read, it
seems
like you
all believe the car would provide more transit options and you'd
buy
one if
given a choice.
I know the problems in the bus system; I've seen them and ridden
paratransit
and felt its impact of unreliability and lateness.
That said, I think other methods of travel are more efficient
and safe.
Things like cabs, car pools, getting rides with friends when you
want
to hang out, and hiring a driver would be better.
I do not support blind people driving because we cannot see to
override the
car.
I have to agree with the individual that said that having a car
is
self serving. We are putting other lives at risk.
We face many obstacles on the rode like other cars wipping in
front of
us when its not their turn; cars inching along not going the
speed
limit and you got to move around them, waiting for pedestrians
to
walk, rode rage, and
drunk drivers.
Without vision, we cannot! intervene the computerized car to
override
it when obstacles arise.
I cannot tell you how many times my parents slammed on the
brakes due
to some driver wipping out in front of them, drivers who
unexpectedly
turn without turning on their turn signal like their supposed
to,
pedestrians who
are still walking across the street when the orange don't walk
signal
is on
thus making cars wait, having to swerve around bicyclists, and
distracted drivers on cell phones.
All these obstacles create hazards which a human driver with
eyes
needs to see and make a quick judgement and use reflexes to act
upon
unexpected hazards.
So, yeah, when you all can afford a new google car, go right
ahead and
you never know who might be hurt if you even get a license. I
just
don't want to
be on the road with you.
I think the nfb car sounded safer and it was built for blind
people,
but we
abandoned that project, probably cause of money.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Kaiti Shelton
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 12:08 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
I don't see it as self-serving either... in my experience with
buses I
have to agree with Sophie here. Plus, some parts of town that I
need
to go either aren't served by buses, or take a really long time
to get
to which sometimes involves going in the opposite way of the
destination for a while and then circling back because of
Dayton's bus
system. (It's organized by buses going north-south and
east-west, but
sometimes when you're at a stop the time of the bus won't tell
you if
the bus is going north or south, or east or west so you have to
roll
with it. I'd much rather just get into a car and drive than
boomerang
around the city just to get to one place, and then do it again
returning to school. And because of this, and the fact that it
the
bus system isn't exactly equivalent to a car, I don't consider
it
self-serving either. I have no problem in supporting it and
other
programs of public transit for people who can't drive a car,
which
more often are people who are low income, have a suspended
license, or
who are inner-city, or elderly than blind, but if I and other
blind
people can afford a car and want one I don't see anything
self-serving
in that, it's just doing what is most efficient. I actually
think not
taking advantage of this opportunity on the basis that the less
than
efficient public transit systems work fine and that other people
can
use the money or whatever that would go into buying this car
would be
like saying you'd pass up going to college even though you could
because other people can be served by your tuition money, and
the high
school diploma would serve you just fine. It's more efficient,
so why
not do it?
Sophie, I too see it more as an investment in independence. :)
On 4/14/13, Robert William Kingett <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:
Im buying this damn car the first chance I get. I'd rather be
self
serving and frivolous and drive to some place within 20 minutes
instead of sitting on the bus for three hours, or more,
depending on
if the driver didn't call my stop and I'd be riding extra long.
Here
in chicagothat isn't a problem but I used to live in Tallahassee
FL
where there was no automated system to tell you where you were.
So
yes, I'd much rather be self serving and save up. Besides, as I
have
said before in a previous message, this technology is driving
along
the streets of Nevada. I'm so excited that I'm even grinning and
daydreaming about driving along side of a bus, and happy that
I'm
frivolous enough to pay for a self serving device that will
allowfor
me to get to the office quicker, or to an interview on time,
thus
allowing me to have greater chances to pay my taxes so you other
non
self serving blind people can take the bus. I think it's a neat
little circle of irony, don't you think? LOL!
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Kaiti
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