On 10/11/10 12:06 , Ricky Clarkson wrote:
It seems easier to improve the decisions computers make than those
humans make. For that reason I disagree; even with humans involved
machines can still drive, as far as I'm concerned. A machine can take
in more data, e.g., a 360 degree view around the car from a camera
mounted on the roof. A machine might be more likely to choose the
correct course when there will be a definite crash. For example, if
you have to choose between a head-on collision and killing a
pedestrian, would you always make the right choice?
(the right choice is the collision; the pedestrian doesn't have crash
protection<obvious joke about obesity omitted />)
Generally speaking, it's the recurring problem of transferring control
and trust to a machine (it already happens for flying aircraft or
driving trains / subways). I think that yes, we can have anedoctical
evidence that sometimes computers fail, but on the whole I think that
they can make the better control decisions. I figure out that the
estimate about cutting in half the number of casualties arises out of
that. OTOH, we have anedoctical evidence that sometimes even the seat
belts can make more damage than good, but on the whole they reduce the
casualties. I suppose that the only important point is that there's a
fast "override" button that reverts the thing back to manual control.
I'd rather like to learn more about the user experience. As an european,
I've figured out that the car for americans is more a commodity (a thing
that I need to move from here to there) than a pleasure (a thing that I
enjoy with). This basically arises out from the fact that there's the
infamous automatic gear - I know a few american friends who enjoy
driving and not by chance they choose to buy a car with a manual gear.
As I've enjoyed driving some thousands kilometers through California, I
was bored to death by the automatic gear. Even when I drive for business
I enjoy driving myself. I'm wondering whether I'd would really give up
and let a computer drive for me. The only scenario I can think of is a
long queue of cars (which, BTW, is the only scenario where I'd use an
automatic gear).
--
Fabrizio Giudici - Java Architect, Project Manager
Tidalwave s.a.s. - "We make Java work. Everywhere."
java.net/blog/fabriziogiudici - www.tidalwave.it/people
[email protected]
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