Avoid red nosed engineering

OH RUDOLf—WHERE  ARE YOU NOW?

Well I won’t go into the inspiration porn aspects of the  holiday classic.  it  was developed to make a point even with the  Island of Misfit  Toys where the magnificent  Santa  swooped in to save the day guided by  that glowing nose  that was  until it became annoying  was seen as a definite flaw.  

However keeping this brief—I am wondering if  the makers of  Autonomous  Vehicles (Self Driving and otherwise ) have decided that people with disabilities  are pretty much a  subset of the population  to be shunned instead of  included in the thought process?   Because  you see if Santa  would have  been thinking of the assets known as “Rudolf’s glowing nose”….he might have had all the elves and  other  Reindeer  out searching for  this sort of talent long before  the emergency Christmas Eve.  

When are  builders of new technology going to stop getting away with the Rudolf rescue or retrofits that have become so much of the common trend in technology.  When are builders and engineers going to realize that body and cognitive -diverse humans  can and should be playing a part in the advancement of their  industries  and products.  Raise your hand any company who wouldn’t  have liked  to haSteven Hocking  as part of their team?   Or maybe  you  would have liked to pass on Edison too?  

Oh well…. I was jut  thinking about  a time when an industry  needed  solutions to a number of  remaining issues you know like  all the AI and self-driving sectors?

Well I said  I’d  keep this brief so  just think a bit and  I HO HO Hope you get the point

Peace,

 and maybe  you’ll go down in history!

Self driving cars and autonomous vehicles still Need better sensors and media

SELF-DRIVING & AV MAKERS STILL NEED TO ADD SOME SENSORS BEFORE  THEY ARE READY FOR  THE PUBLIC

Not so long ago this blog was critical about how many  news stories  seemed to be incredibly  similar and appear  on the “Google Alert”  on the same day.  This is still problematic, however it also serves a great purpose.  

YOU SOMETIMES  SEE THE MOST  WHEN YOU NOTICE WHAT IS NOT THERE.

While some stories  mention the benefit of self-driving  modes of transport for  people with disabilities, there appears  to bde no urgency on reporting the lack of stories or the lack people  with disabilities  who are being  consulted, employed, and included  in the development and production process.  

  

I recently was honored to talk to the Council on future  Mobility  (a great, energetic, and forward-thinking group of  manufacturers and government officials ) and provided a convincing case for  the need to move forward with  development of  this mode of transportation.  However,  nothing  hit the papers about  that aspect of the meeting.  The  very next  week a major auto   maker announced  a tripling  of money to be invested in the future forms of transport, but  nothing appeared  saying any additional focus  was being  placed  upon the ability of  seniors and people  with disabilities having a greater role in  ensuring these vehicles  lead to increased  participation for these citizens.  

Now…I have always given my bias in these blogs and I’m not stopping now.  I want to work  for/with one or more of these  companies to promote and improve access for all users.  I want to do this  because  if you can give people choices on how to participate in the world, then you can give them the responsibilities of full-fledged citizens—you know like paying bills,sharing the tax burden, etc.  The point I’m trying to make is this is a new frontier of mobility and  people with disabilities are slowly falling into the “after-thoght category AGAIN!!!!  

To paraphrase and old classic—

What do we want  “Freedom”(to help build, pay for, and use  transportation)!!!

When do we want it (well if it can’t be yesterday)  NOW!!!

Right  now there is too much doubt that  inclusion is  a goal of many car makers and the media, and makers are being very silent.  really really really really—-did I say really  quiet about  how and which aspects of access are being developed, tested, and included.  

It is time to hear what now  is silent and to see what  for now is simply  not visible.  

Again my bias needs to be mentioned…. I would love to  work on helping  (for money)  and have a strong belief that that  there is not intentional  bias against people with  disabilities…. however this isa great (and probably once  in century)   opportunity for someone to take the lead in  a revolutionary social change….and a very positive one.  For now however, no one seems to want to  lead and  that is concerning.  The sensors  targeting the social aspects of this seem to be missing a little bit for the media and the makers alike.

What do we wan?  Freedom!!!

When do we want it  NOW!!!—-notafter we think about it for a while the seeds are being planted not when the fruit is falling  and being picked up off the ground.

Self driving vehicle kills 40 G And some other questions that might be disputed or not

A Question to Ponder…. and an answer that is hard to dispute.

First…sorry  no blog entries for a week or so.  I was visiting  family and friends.  Yes, like your family, my family puts the fun back in dys(fun(ctional.  But seriously this provided great opportunity to discuss  automation and accessibility with a lot of folks  who aren’t  in my regular circle of life and  provided  a couple of prompts for the next couple of  blog entries .

The first of these is when are we going to see the  Headline 

#Self-Driving  Bus kills 40 people?

Well you see that is a reasonable question, yet it isn’t  the important question whatsoever.  

The important  question is “will competitive  industry  entities  (yes car makers are those)  see the benefits of  sharing safety  dataa, accessibility  successes, and overall human transportation effectiveness as more  or just as important as the race to deploy new and innovative transportation options?  

I  am going to make my bias completely  transparent right now.  I say full speed ahead….with this very important  bit of wisdom that I think  car makers are starting to  realize.  

TRUST IS THE CURRENCY OF ELECTRONIC AND AUTOMATED VEHICLES  

The companies that do the best in producing the safest, the fastest and show the most proof are going to win the hearts  and minds of the public.  

the companies that can write the headline #blind driver surpasses  million mile mark…or #driver with  one leg  crosses country independently is going to have a competitive  advantage like no other .  

Or the company that can truthfully claim our vehicles have contributed to 20 million drivers over 80 to  stay on the roads safely and continue living  at home.  Are going to grab  the most important  headlines in this  new car race.  

It would be great if all the automakers  would share successful  equipment and processes..but they may make progress  faster and more effectively  addressing these important  matters  independently.  

So the question becomes not when a vehicle accident will happen that really grabs a headline—it is are the right questions being honestly and openly debated  amongst the car companies and states who are facing the future with intelligence , consumer participation, and enthusiasm.  

Again this is a biased  statement and I believe I have always said I would indicate bias if I see it in my own assumptions.  so 

I BELIEVE THE “PLAYERS” IN THIS WORLD  IN MICHIGAN ARE DOING THIS RIGHT SO FAR…..

Would i like to see more discussion and more  #people with disabilities involved  in the process RIGHT NOW?  Yes!!

Okay  at the beginning of this I also said I would provide something hard to dispute.  Given the amount of data available  it is difficult foursome people to conclude that driver assisted vehicles  are safer that any other kind of  transportation option.  I agree we may still have an apples to oranges comparison set here (I believe that autonomous vehicles will far surpass  current  technology in safety  in the next few  years—again I will own my bias).  However if we are allowing apples to oranges comparisons here… I am going to throw in  a watermelon.

In the  actual reported  documented and truthful  history of tesla and others… We are looking at only a handful of fatalities in about sfive to six years  of various renditions of deployment.  No death is unimportant because no life  is unimportant so I am not discounting  these  people —however  READ THIS CAREFULLY

Sixty nine (69)  Americans (not counting any other countries)  are killed in lawnmower accidents every year.  

If 69  people were killed by autonomous  vehicles in the next  year that would likely  slow the progress  of transportation options for decades…yet an average of 69  Americans  killed in lawnmower  accidents each year  represents a 10 year average and and when have you seen a newspaper or google headline about this lately?  Are you afraid when your neighbor cranks  up the “lawnboy?”

I guess it’s all relative,however I think we need to  keep facts in the front of fear…even if fear sells more  papers or drives more clicks.

There is a new and productive industry  being born here.  There are some moral questions to be addressed and in the end  I am humbly  suggesting we promise each other  to use facts to show we care.  Use technology to bring together  humans rather that to  use technology -related status symbols  to create  even more  social divisions  Let’s use  trust and inclusion as the currency  of this industry and create an infinite number of solutions to the age old  question:

How do we give everyone  equality in  choice and instill the notion of personal responsibility related to those choices?  

We have a big opportunity  to tackle this question within the transportation sector.  Let’s get  to it. I am going i

Be Afraid--Be very afraid of Self-Driving Vehicles

BE AFRAID!!!! BE VERY AFRAID  of Self-Driving Vehicles


Well yesterday after the seventh time  of reading about the "Trolley Dilemma"  I have decided  that fear is a critical element  in this  whole move toward  autonomous  transportation.  Yes it is likely that at some point a computer algorithm  is going to make a decision that will result in the harm of a living thing.  The literally billions of billions of living things on the planet cannot possibly  all be accounted for  by any machine.

So here is what I came up with to validate my fears.  I started reading  the best research and the best summaries of research I could get my hands on.  I, unlike some folks even went across the pond to see what European  experts could tell us.


Now I am a person with a disability so I  must admit I pay closer attention to the data regarding that.  nonetheless, here are a few of the scary facts surrounding self-driving or autonomous vehicles.

With the technology that exists right now--cars driven by drivers ---94% of accidents are caused by driver error--not mechanical  failure or road failures like an earthquake or a bridge  falling down etc.
So there's that.

Now on the other hand around 80% of all people with disabilities state inadequate transportation is a major  barrier to work and social opportunities.
It is estimated that  if current  tech could be effectively  deployed it  could lead to  as many as 2 million more people with disabilities  going to work.
This new transportation option could lead to  increased efficiency in medical care, namely  the non cancellation of appointment and  other  such logistics  that cost an estimated  PLEASE READ CAREFULLY--19 BILLION with a B dollars annually.
Oh and in terms of missed work and medical services... well let's just say the Ruderman Foundation White Paper presents a pretty convincing arguement that our current system doesn't work, however, if a better  system could be in place productivity in the workplace could rise by  READ CAREFULLY AGAIN  an INCREASE of around  1.3 TRILLION  with A T DOLLARSS.


Now those awesome scary  numbers.

Oh, and Isaid I leaped across the ocean to see what else might be  out there in fact land.  The latest UK study  predicted that with existing technology  somewhere between 17,000 and 20,000 lives could be saved by the use of autonomous vehicles.  So there would have to be  around 4000 runaway trolleys to cause the same amount of concern that the current  "trolley dilemma" keeps shouting  about.

That's with today's tech.  Do you really think  there will not be improvements as time goes by?  Let's  take a serious look at this notion.  Let's start with your cell phone.  Take  out the cell phone you had  20 years ago---oh wait  you didn't have one?  Ok take out the cell phone you had 10 years  ago... now compare that with what your current  phone can do.  If you can still find an analog TV from about  15 years ago take a look at the picture on it and then look at the one in your living room.  Take a look at the alarm clock you used when you were a kid and  oh now your phone  probably mistaking care  of that for you now.

The reality is I WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID ...AFRAID  enough to find out for yourself about this new tech.  You are going to hear about robots making choices  about who or what to kill and you are going to hear stories about  cars without drivers making  silly mistakes, however you are a very capable human being and can find the facts related to this new  way of looking at moving people and that more than anything will help you evaluate  the fear factors.


The fear will hold us back and the facts will set us free.  Have a great day--just don't walk under any ladders or break any mirrors, and avoid black cats at all costs.

The Frame Doesn't Define the Problem--Unless You Choose It

Today's Self-Driving News was flooded with the news that some sensors did not recognize darker skin colors as well as lighter ones.
Well.... my first  instinct  was to stay silent--I don't follow that instinct very often so then I went to instinct  number two.  Try to refreame this whole matter in a way that  ignores the rather obvious racial overtones.  I am a very biased  person.  My bias however is to avoid dualistic definitions at all costs because these definitions almost never lead to good solutions or even to solutions that  can lead to good solutions.  However let me  try to  put a far more productive frame around this and ask for  some of us to suspend our  thoughts  at least for the next few paragraphs.

Imagine  you and a partner are going  in to buy a car.  One of you  loves black cars and the other  likes white cars.  If you use a dualistic framework and  believe the solution must be a compromise that only  offers the elements of black and white then you'll be driving off helot either in separate  cars, in your old car, or a gray car.    Gray is the only  compromise color and maybe neither of you can stomach gray.

Okay Now  that's silly you say.... two people  might like those colors a lot but they can get beyond this  dualism and still come out with a car they can live with.... right?  Maybe a blue car or a red car or even  one of those  really bright yellow cars?

Well here is where I'm headed with the news that  some sensors  didn't identify certain skin colors as well as others.  Why leave it up  solely to the car?  Wouldn't it make sense to have a back-up plan for identification for humans.  How about a wrist band that sends out a signal that  a person is approaching.  Oh and that solution might also work for  people who are  using white  canes or who access the world  using wheelchairs.  Or lord forbid we have that capacity for baby carriages or  wagons or bicycles.  Successful  cohabitation of  transportation has to have communication that goes beyond the capacity of one sensor and even if that sensor can be improved (which it will be) why can't we look at this  as an opportunity  to solve  a number of potential  challenges.

Anyway we have existed in the car/people  world by  making eye contact with each other, by use of a subtle wave, by a nod of the head and so many other  methods....we can outsmart  s sensor with another sense--or... The common sense--or

Okay  I have said my piece and my peace.  Let's  try our best not to make this a dualistic racial story because I don't want to read a headline that says  "minivan in Grand Rapids charged with  Hate Crime."

We  are better  than this treatment  I have seen in the news with the inference and innuendo.... let's  look for solutions and not divisions.

Experts Agree AV Planning and Coordination is Critical and the Time is Now

Disability Experts Meets and Make Recommendations --Officeof Disability Employment Policy Publishes Them.  So Now what?


First (before becoming critical which I am bound to do as an advocate) I applaud this groups and the organizers of the  meeting held  to discuss this matter.

At the end of this  blog entry/opinion. I will provide the link to the  report issued so that  readers can draw inferences own their own.

However, prior to sending you on your merry way  to look at the report I'd like to provide a (biased but fair) framework within  which to view the report.


Here we go.

The Cityof Pittsburgh issued itsPrinciples and approved them.  The ODEP  documents and the issues raised would have  been a powerful addition to these principles in the eyes of many people with disabilities, however the left hand didn't know what the right hand was writing--opportunity missed.  So future  "principles need tinkled theODEP concepts and it is going to take advocates to  make sure  these ideas  are integrated into these fundamental  documents.  These advocates canbepeoplewith disabilities,enlightened  policy makers, or vehicle  makers....that doesn't matter the concepts  just need to be included.

Next, the recommendations target"everyone under the sun."  That in itself illustrates the expansive impacttheis emerging  technology will have on our economic future, planning cycles, and social interactions.  Unfortunately without more specific recommendations  within specific  contexts the suggestions  are a little like shooting a few  shot gunshot the and hoping to bring down some sort of food.  You are likely to hit something, however you might drop a sparrow instead of the Christmans Goose you were  hoping for.


Next there didn't seem to be a strong focus on what types of political platform  items need to be written, what type of federal policy changes in terms of purchasing  and providing  transportation would need to be implemented and when.  There was  not a clear future path put forward for the  resources needed to build community level  experts who  could guide the development of vehicles and the monitoring of their  real world performances.

Also the meeting did not seem to yield list of questions that would be directed towards automakers or government officials.

In short, this report had some strong words from some smart people, and it is worth  a read and should be forwarded  widely.  However consider it much like a stop sign--a place to notice what is happen and what  might happen in the near future on the path where you are driving...and like the  stop sign do not consider  the report to mean "stop"  here forever...

Okay...Here are my suggestions--
Distribute thisdocument to ll the  AV designing companies and ask for a brief response.  Distribute it to every transportation committee  within our  state and  national governments (maybe along with the pittsburgh principles.  Make sure that every  CenterforIndependent Living receives and acknowledges receiving his report.
Make sure that all State/Federal VocationalRehabilitations are aware of the report and  are forming policy  regarding the purchase and use of  this mode of transportation and issue a mandate to see a draft report from  these agencies within thinnest six months...because in technology time a year or two is a lifetime.

These are just a few of my specific  suggestions....

Well here's  the report...like I said  spread the word.  It is well done for what it is.....much more is needed!


http://images.magnetmail.net/images/clients/CONCEPTSPR/attach/AVInfoGatheringReport2Final.pdf


Pittsburgh principles approved now let’s see how things evolve

 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania became the first major United States city to release an approved set of principles for autonomous vehicle operation    Where the rubber hits the road so to speak will be in how these principles are applied and monitored there are clauses for public advisory roles and people who have been on the wrong side of the tracks so to speak but when it comes to transportation need to make sure they are equal participants in these advisory groups


 I am certain once these principles are implemented there will be some fervent of bait over some of the closet is and how things are working out but I think Pittsburgh should be applauded for getting out there and putting something on paper establishing a first a comparison so to speak a model to work on you can take a look at these principles by clicking on the link below are

 One concern that has already risen is that if the operation of these vehicles is going to be a city by city approval proposition the process is going to be very complex and difficult for designers and consumers but we had to start somewhere so again thank you Pittsburgh now let’s see where we go from here


http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/5056_AV_Testing_EO.pdf


Sunday drive-Some semi-serious pondering

Well, --it's the weekend and I have  traditionally  tried to keep my offerings a little lighter on the weekend.  Today is no exception.  When I get into a technology discussion with my kids and youth in general it doesn't ttake long for my age to show.  In fact  here is a pictureofme holding my original tablet.  Or at least  that is what my children point out.  

'That brings me to  my semi-serious  points for today.  

I've been thinking about driving in generaland driver's "pre-driver's license experiences.  The  cars of the future  promotes have  different  mechanisms  that those today .  I would  suggest that all steering wheels  be replaced with game controllers.  Why  you ask?   Well then I ask this?  How many of your kids have  been playing Mario Cart,  or Grand Theft Auto?  These people have been logging miles by the millions long before weintroducethem to the  clunky mechanics of a steering wheel.  We have the  technology  to replace the steering wheel right  now.  Why not put  this more familiar device in our cars  right now?   

Also.... Our phones offer (or have taught us--depending on how you view it) to customize them and practically give them a personality.So our  self-driving cars should be able to offer such  things with  little  trouble.  Imagine a horn that  spouted out "Excuse me please" at the touch of a button  or as long as these things  are going to have many, many, sensors you could have an aroma sensor that automatically  engaged the air freshener after  well..a certain methane smells were detected.  I don't know the possibilities seem promising if we use a little imagination rather than fearing the future.  

We are entering a brave new world...let's be brave!