[nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention

Wed Feb 2 00:37:50 UTC 2011

The irony of this didn't escape me either, Cindy. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Feb 1, 2011, at 7:29 PM, Cindy Ray wrote:

> Boy, I'm staying on *my* side of the street after reading this. LOL. You know, that car was a "quiet car." 
> 
> Cindy
> 
> On Feb 1, 2011, at 5:54 PM, Tamara Smith-Kinney wrote:
> 
>> Fine!  Rain on my parade with boring reality.  /grin/
>> 
>> I have to confess, I enjoy my silly little unrealistic image of whizzing
>> down the road (with a shiny red convertible model, naturally!) with my
>> poodle in her doggles riding shotgun while we boogie to music on the radio.
>> 
>> You know how I was talking earlier about adults who don't grow up?  I hope I
>> did not mistakenly imply that I am not one of them.  /lol/
>> 
>> It will be interesting to see how the technology comes along to support the
>> car itself, though.  Seems to me, just at a glance, that there would be
>> benefits to more than just us blind people who want to drive.  There could
>> be benefits in terms of lessening of traffic congestion (yeah, I dream),
>> improved traffic safety, improved pedestrian safety...  Which would improve
>> life for this blind person who sometimes just wants to walk a mile up to the
>> store for fun but has to consider the safety factors seven ways from Sunday,
>> consult the time of day, weather, horosocope...  Then wonder if it's worth
>> being lectured by walking beside a killer road (roads don't kill people;
>> idiot drivers kill people; often, on this road), etc.  We will not talk
>> about trying to cross the road.
>> 
>> So maybe the car blind people can drive would also be a car idiots can drive
>> safely?  Or if the car tells them there's a pedestrian crossing the street,
>> will they still drive right over it and ignore the thump?  /evil grin/
>> 
>> I did hear on the news just last week about an up and coming technology that
>> will allow drivers to join a caravan electronically and leave the driving to
>> the lead vehicle while you read a good book, the reporter pointed out
>> seriously.  Then, of course, the anchors had fun by listing all the things
>> drivers really do in their cars while their driving:  text, read the funny
>> pages, do the crossword, put on mascara, drink coffee from one hand and eat
>> a donut from the other.... They didn't include changing the baby's diaper on
>> the way to daycare, but I have seen that done.  
>> 
>> Hm...  So I wonder if the cars of the Blind Driver challenge would help at
>> all with the idiot driver challenge?  Now that I've thought about it, I may
>> never the cross the street again, though.  I've given myself a case of the
>> wild willies for sure!
>> 
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Buddy Brannan
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 1:24 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>> 
>> No, there's no strip in the road. Speed strips" are vibraing things that are
>> in a cushion under the driver's legs and up his back. These give information
>> about whether he can speed up or slow down. The files on blindbargains.com
>> are fantastic. BTW, I doubt that any blind people will drive the car on the
>> open road. Putting aside the whole issue of not having driver's licenses and
>> not being insured, I really don't think that the technology is quite ready
>> for real world use. Probably won't be for some time yet. And count on legal
>> hurdles and red tape beyond that before we can actually have a car that we
>> can drive, and never mind the cost of having such a car modded. Think a van
>> with a wheelchair lift is expensive? I'd bet this will be more. 
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Feb 1, 2011, at 3:23 PM, cheryl echevarria wrote:
>> 
>>> neither did I.
>>> 
>>> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services! 
>>> 
>>> Cheryl Echevarria 
>>> http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/> 
>>> 1-866-580-5574 or 631-456-5394
>>> 
>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>>> 
>>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel
>> Inc.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: Albert J Rizzi<mailto:albert at myblindspot.org> 
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users'<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:18 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I did not hear anything  about needing a strip on the road  or anything
>> like
>>> that to tell you the truth. 
>>> 
>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>> Founder
>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>> New York, New York  10004
>>> www.myblindspot.org<http://www.myblindspot.org/>
>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>> is
>>> doing it."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>
>> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>>> Of Cindy Ray
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:13 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind-Drivable Car at Convention
>>> 
>>> There are probably plenty of software issues to iron out. Also, as I
>>> understand it, mostly the car has to drive on a strip that heops with the
>>> sensors, but I could be wrong. Blind Bargains has a podcast of the drive,
>>> complete with the crowd there, race announcers, and all, and a press
>>> conference. I think it is blindbargains.com though it could be .org.
>>> 
>>> 
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>>> org
>>> 
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