[Nfbf-l] Simply amazing!

Larry Conatser lconat54 at bellsouth.net
Mon Jan 31 15:45:57 UTC 2011 

The possibilities are exciting. Problems of getting around keeps many blind 
people from being a productive member of their communities. This shows that not 
only can they be an active member of their communities, but  they can come up 
with solutions that can make the life of people who are not blind better.  When 
all members of a community are given a chance to participate and all work 
together, great things can happen.  Instead of trying to make them into sighted 
people a better goal may be to work with them. 

        We all need to keep our unique identity.  We also need to work together. 
What makes the event of a blind man driving a car a great and exciting milestone 
is that he is still blind but was able to contribute to his community. He will 
keep his identity as a blind man but show that given a chance he can be an 
active and participating member of the his community.   

      An example is given from a great book. A body has many parts that work 
together. All can not be an eye. For if by the body being an eye only, we could 
not hear. Thus all parts of the body are different,  but they have their own 
identity and work together. Our community and country should take note.  The 
blind man driving a car is a tremendous milestone in history.      



________________________________
From: David Evans <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sun, January 30, 2011 10:02:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Simply amazing!


Dear All,

I think that some people are missing the point of this project.
I was there at the track side and witnessed Mark drive the car around the 
track.  He maneuvered in and out between barrels and cones set up on the 
track and even dealt with the van, that suddenly pulled out on the track in 
front of him and began dumping boxes out the rear doors in his path.  He 
dodged the boxes and even passed the van and had to deal with more cones 
after that.
The real point of this was to prove to the public that a blind person could 
drive a car and do it safely.
It also showed that the abilities of the Blind can be enhanced with the 
right skills and technology.
The development of this kind of technology can and will lead to other forms 
of technology that will let the Blind do more.  We don't know where this 
will lead yet as the spin offs are only just starting.  The same way as the 
spin offs from the Space Program came along only after we began to build the 
program.
I remember in 1963, when my parents gave me a 6 transistor radio, state of 
the art at the time.  Today, we can fit over 250,000 of them on the head of 
a pin.
As it cost $10,000 per pound to shoot something into space, weight counts. 
That fact drove the search to make things smaller and lighter to save money.
The same thing will happen with the technology to enable the Blind to drive. 
We can not even imagine just what the spin offs will be now, but we do know 
they will happen.
How about a head band or hat that has sensors imbedded in it that transmit 
directly to the brain and creates a mental image of your surroundings.  How 
about a set of gloves that get you tactile feedback about an object that is 
not really there, but many miles away or can let you "feel" a drawing in 
3-D.
We do not know where this will all lead, but the investment will pay big 
dividends for everyone.
I am an engineer with back ground in research and development in both the 
Nuclear and aerospace fields.  I know that the money and time invested here 
will come back ten fold to us, down the road, pardon the pun.
Time will be the proof of what I have said.  As the slogan of the "Skunk 
works use to say," the difficult we do immediately, the impossible just 
takes a little longer."

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Simply amazing!


John and Paul, I felt just as you both do until I was able to actually see
it for myself and have had the  opportunity to listen to the inventors of
this interface equipment. It is as fast of a reaction as an sighted
persons -eye and hand coordination would be with it's reaction to items in
the way, whether it is fixed or immediately placed in front of the vehicle
as a car or item or person! It is real time technology on it and Mark(the
blindman) that drove it yesterday did drive around fidxed cones as well as
out manuevered the boxes thrown out of the van in front of his and finally
he actually passed the van to get in front of him  so he could not have to
keep dodging bboxes! I am not expecting this technology to happen today, but
why can't you see what technology can offer for our future generations of
the blind communitty? This display showed all present our future is
unlimited as long as we work together with the best and  brightest in the
sighted world! I have no  expectations of this  driving ability will be
available for me or you two, but come on guys, think of all the future kids
that come along and what we can start to achieve for them with this science!
Your friend in the cause, Kirk



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "john schwery" <jschwery at embarqmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Simply amazing!


Paul, I agree with you, here.  Driving at high
speeds requires reaction time that has to be
immediate.  I don't believe any technology could
give us that fast, reaction time.

earlier, Paul Kaminsky, wrote:
>Sorry but in my opinion it's just another way to get more grant dollars.
>Why
>didn't they set up cones along the track
>simulating children on bikes or other
>cars as if in traffic.  The real world is not an
>open track.  Vice personal mode
>of transportation money would be better spent on
>mass transit.  A system where
>all have the same available means of point to point travel.
>
>
>
>
>
>________________________________
>From: Kirk <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
>To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: FRG-BVA at yahoogroups.com; fcb-l at acb.org
>Sent: Sat, January 29, 2011 9:27:22 PM
>Subject: Simply amazing!
>
>
>  Hi all!
>I have to say, it was a very exciting moment in History today for  me at
>the
>daytona Speedway!  for me To have been fortunate
>enough to be there to witness
>this special historical event was really something.Being able to witness a
>blind man  drive himself around the track,
>making  decisions  on  when  to turn
>to avoid real time situations such as the  van in front  of him tossing out
>boxes for him to avoid  and him actually doing  it correctly and without
>incident was simply remarkable! Just imagine
>what tomorrow's technologywill give
>all of us to utilize to reach our goals such as
>driving ourselves!The thought of
>this is just too awesome!  I have to admit I had
>reservations to this project,
>but after witnessing it in person and listening
>to Rick Obono (SP) tell us how
>he for the  very first time  was able to put his entire family in the car
>and
>drive his two kids and wife around the track
>yesterday and how proud he sounded
>telling us, it has changed my opinion! My  hat goes off to Dr. Mauer and
>the
>National NFB  and the University of Virginia for working with this project
>together and doing such a fine job coordinating this event. I got to see
>the
>beginning  of our future freedom for
>transportation and to be able  to travel as
>we wish as  easily as our sighted counterparts
>in the  near future! It's simply
>Remarkable! well I will quit babbling on  for
>now, but it  did give  me  a  new
>hope  and  excitement knowing we are  right around the corner to reach this
>goal! !
>
>All I can say to all of you is it was " SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!!
>
>
>
>
>
>d" TURNING HOPE INTO REALITY"
>_______________________________________________
>Nfbf-l mailing list
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>

John
Currently in Ocala, Florida Overcast, Fog 42°F Wind:Calm
The deer hunter does not notice the mountains.
Created by Weather Signature v1.33 . http://www.weathersig.com


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