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Something that I realized this year is that I like pondering the future -- looking way out and imagining how the world will be different, what things people will be doing, etc. This probably stems from my interest in technology.
Exactly, that's what I'm saying-December 17, 2010
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/17/0335211/Pocket-Airports-Would-Link-Neighborhoods-By-AirDo it. Smart CarsJune 4, 2010
It's becoming increasingly clear to me that in the coming decades, cars are quite likely to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of technology. Although, perhaps cars have always been something that makes technological progress evident -- I was looking at a 1970s Toyota the other day and the interior was so ancient looking. But what's coming isn't about plusher interiors, it's about the infusion of connectedness and software. Much of these things have caught my imagination over the years, but in 2010 these things are seeming ever more certain.   | Cars that talk to infrastructure and to each other. For example, cars that talk to the traffic systems, such as stop lights. This will make the behavior of stop lights dependent on traffic, and at some point will also have an effect on the behavior of the car. ie. If you drive at a certain speed, the light will be green, and so you won't have to stop and start. Or not having to physically pay at a gas station or parking garage. I just watched an Audio video about these things and, wow, it just makes so much sense. Cars that automatically call 911 when you've been in an accident. (Does that exist already?) Cars that automatically stop if you try and run a red light, or perhaps even a stop sign. And maybe in that case, your car automatically informs the car behind that an evasive stop is about to occur... the cars could even negotiate information about their weight and stopping ability to predict whether the vehicle behind will be able to stop fast enough not to cream the vehicle in front... think trucks behind a car. And likewise, vehicles driving perpendicular to the offending vehicle being warned of a possible collision and thus being slowed down enough to avoid the incident, or being stopped. |
| Driving assistance: We're already seeing some parking assistance, but this is only the beginning. Software to detect children behind the vehicle and prevent you from running them over. Or even the tricycle. Software to help you stop ASAP if a pedestrian walks out in front of you. As mentioned, automatically stopping if you try and run a red light. And yes, at some point, being able to take your hands off of the wheel. That one still feels a bit sci-fi, but I highly expect that will happen. |
| Software to notify. For example, software to detect when you are going to run out of gas and route you to the nearest (or perhaps in some cases only possible) gas station, or to tell you if it is impossible to get to any refueling station. Software to monitor the health and performance of the vehicle and report any abnormalities to you and/or your mechanic. Software to monitor how the tires are interacting with the road and to notify you of danger. Knowing what comes up ahead on the road and, again, to notify you of danger. |
| Be able to play any song in your music collection without having to transfer it to the car, or even having to have your cell phone present. Or if you have a subscription, play any song ever written, by voice command. |
| Directions: Say where you want to go and get directions. |
| UI: The main thing being voice UI that works well and is flexible. The infusion of linguistic technology analogous to Wolfram|Alpha for querying and/or commanding. "How much further can I drive?", "What's my current ETA?", "Open the trunk", "Take me home", "Take me to the nearest Tim Hortons", "Where is Eli"? |
| High speed Internet built into the car -- other devices could tap into this as if the car were a router. |
| In-car entertainment: Internet/TV in the car, HD audio/video. |
| Energy sources: Electric vehicles, possibly hydrogen vehicles. |
| Energy transfer: Plug in cars, possibly even wireless charging or equivalent. |
| Efficiency: If a car rarely has to stop at red lights, recaptures energy when it does have to stop, doesn't use energy when it is stopped, drives at the optimum speed, is very aerodynamic, drives smart in terms of not accelerating too quickly, not touching the brakes unnecessarily, and all of this paired with the improvements of efficiency that come from engine and fuel technology, I expect that the cars a few decades from now will make the SUVs of today look completely insane. |
| Safety: I think the biggest thing here, as mentioned, is the infusion of intelligent overrides based on sensing of the environment as well as communication with infrastructure and other cars. I wonder what percentage of fatal or serious car accidents could be prevented by this type of thing? I'm guessing the large majority. Imagine living in a world where the number of car accident deaths is 1/10th what it is today... |
| The little things: In today's world, it would be USB ports for charging devices. |
| By air: And of course, as I've pondered before, getting there by air. Driving 5-10 km to the nearest runway, putting it on auto pilot, and having your car extend its wings, accelerate down the runway, fly autonomously to the destination runway communicating with ATC automatically, and then coming to a stop for you to takeover control and drive to your destination... admittedly, this one is probably the most futuristic sci-fi, yes, but I think it just might happen this century. |
Adding all of these things up, the car feels like a very different beast than it is in 2010... still a car, but a much smarter, more connected, car. And while I can imagine the various pieces, it's difficult to imagine just what it would be like to sit down in one of these things and go for a drive. Give it 30 years and we'll know... Traffic AnalysisJune 4, 2010
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/06/04/0024211/Traffic-Flow-Algorithm-Can-Reduce-Fuel-ConsumptionI love this kind of thing... older >>
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