Friday 25th May 2001

Pay Attention Now

Is technology a substitute for anticipation?

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[Graham and Rosie]

"the next stage will be video sensors combined with picture processing, enabling the vehicle to interpret sensed objects and notify the driver via a screen within the dashboard display" So let me get this right, since the driver cannot see the object out of the windscreen (big glass area directly in front of his face) they are developing a system which will flash a warning on a screen (small tv set below the line of sight) and somehow this is better??? I would suggest that if a driver cannot see the object in front of their faces, then noticing a small screen on the dash is even LESS likely It''s technology gone mad....I am reminded of the NASA pen, PaperMate spent loads of money developing a pen which pumped the ink to the knib so that it would work in space, when the Russians were faced with the same proble, they issued their Cosmonauts (SP?) with a pencil.... ================ Graham and Rosie

[Roy C]

I think it's all leading in the right direction. Very soon these "suits" will be able to sit in their car environment simulators (hopefully in a deep underground bunker), while their virtual Vectras drive them through a CAD world, so they can operate their replicated virtual offices and hold teleconferences until the Cow icons come home-station. That leaves the real roads empty for more creative purposes.

[.mark]

What is it with these researchers??? Surely a cheaper option would be to pass a law saying every driver must always have his/her Mother-In-Law in the car. Watch out for the cyclist.......Look the traffic lights are red.......Its only a 30mph hour limit...........

[Nightmare]

agee with all comments....but lets face it, no matter how much the driving standards for tests were improved (he says laughably) there would still be a vast majority of stupid numpties who shouldnt be allowed out in public, let alone on a road. If the technology got good enough then maybe I'd have to worry slightly less about people being absolute berks....?! (yes, a total cop out I acceopt, but i think its actually closer to reality than decent driving standards - sad isnt it?!) Night

[apache]

this is why I bought a Griff, get some in before the roads become totally unuseable/overpriced