XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com   
      
   Bernard Peek  wrote   
   > J. Clarke wrote   
   >> Bernard Peek  wrote   
   >>> J. Clarke wrote   
      
   >>>>> Perfect application for a pod system. If your fridge forgets to order   
   >>>>> the milk you can just order it online. It should be delivered in less   
   >>>>> time than it takes to drive to the store.   
      
   >>>> Since it takes me zero time to drive to the store that I am passing on   
   >>>> the way from work, how will this help?  And how much will the   
   >>>> individual   
   >>>> pod delivery add to the cost?   
      
   >>> That's certainly true now. With a pod system in place that local store   
   >>> probably won't be there, there wouldn't be enough trade to justify it.   
      
   >> So your justification for your pod system is that it can be used to   
   >> destroy the retail industry as we know it?   
      
   > The retail industry (and every other industry) is doomed anyway.   
      
   No it isn't. There will always be plenty who prefer to   
   do their  shopping that way, particularly those who   
   have nothing better to do with their free time.   
      
   At one time some claimed that automats would completely   
   replace the entire retail food industry too. They never did   
   and in fact are just about non existent now.   
      
   I can't see that the pod system will ever fly, essentially   
   because of the immense cost of the infrastructure required.   
      
   I bet the most we ever see is robot cars and maybe robot drones.   
      
   But it will be fascinating to see what the local kids do about   
   drones if anyone is actually silly enough to try those.   
      
   Bet hordes of kids wont be able to resist poking a stick   
   in the rotor disk just to see what happens when they do.   
      
   And it will be fascinating to see what happens to robot cars   
   that are used to deliver stuff to the slums. Bet they get stopped   
   by kids jumping in front of them and then smashing their way   
   into the car to get what they are carrying.   
      
   And even if they are made smash into proof, there is no way   
   to do anything about kids standing in front and behind them   
   so that the only way the car can move is to run over the kid.   
      
   >>> As to cost, the closest we have ti it right now is the postal system. So   
   >>> my best guess is that a pod delivery will probably cost about the same   
   >>> as posting a letter. Having all of your weekly groceries delivered in   
   >>> one shipment might cost twice that.   
      
   >> The postal system is nothing at all like "pod delivery".  The postal   
   >> system amortizes the cost of driver and vehicle over many, many daily   
   >> deliveries on a single route.  You are using the vehicle for single   
   >> deliveries.   
      
   > No, I'm using a pod for a single delivery. A pod is closer to an envelope   
   > than it is to a vehicle.   
      
   Not with the cost of it it isn't. In spades with the infrastructure it   
   needs.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)