XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: bap@shrdlu.com   
      
   On 14/01/14 18:25, Doc O'Leary wrote:   
   > So while self-driving cars are definitely possible, my point remains   
   > that they'll be ushered in surrounded by a cloud of changes to the way   
   > the world works.  Some of those changes will be easy to predict, and   
   > some with be complete surprises.  It's just outright*wrong*  if all you   
   > do is apply today's thinking to a world where a fanciful technology is   
   > commonplace.   
      
   I could probably put together a design for self-driving cars that could   
   be built with today's technology. What I can't see is a transition state   
   where some cars are self-driving and others aren't. I think it might   
   have to be a big-bang transition where from 00:00 on day zero all cars   
   are required to have all of the systems in place and operational. Cars   
   (and other vehicles) without the system become museum pieces literally   
   overnight. It might be simpler (and cheaper) to build a completely new   
   system and scrap every existing vehicle rather than trying to retrofit   
   vehicles that were not designed to be self-driving.   
      
      
      
   --   
   Bernard Peek   
   bap@shrdlu.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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