Believe what we say or what we do some interesting survey outcomes

SELF-DRIVING—THE SURVEY SAYS???

There have been countless surveys describing how today’s drivers do not trust self-driving  cars.  Of course it is always  dangerous  to bring the facts into an emotional debate, however a recent finding by Lifts (a taxi service in Los Vegas that employs driverless technology  might shed some light on things.  They surveyed potential passengers and found that. 75% of those people were uncomfortable  with ther idea.  However when presented with the actual option of using a driverless or self driving option 80% of their target population actually used  a self-driven vehicle and 96% of those who used the option would use it again.  

Take a moment to soak that in.  Three fourths of the same people saying they didn’t want to trust these emerging vehicles and that was reported  out to the public.  Then 80% did it and nearly 100% would take this option again.  This leads to question that I asked months ago...how many people were. Reluctant to  convert.from horses to automobiles?  Did we do surveys on that and if so wherre’s the reporting about this?  The reality  is that people  have adapted  remarkably  quickly to change in transportation once it became  aavailabnle and usablee.  

Maybe it is time to stop asking these survey questions and turn to more important questions.  For example, how does this impact insurance and insurance law.   What can cities do tho prepare for  these. Carts?  At what level of education are we going to begin  teaching future. Robotics and mechanics employees to repair  massive amounts of these vehicles?  Well the time is now to begin working. Harder on these important matters and. Quit wasting. Time on the popularity contast.  After all I  remember a fairly  well supported theory that the world was flat and that the earth was at the center of the universe.... how did those. Publicly  supported decisions/assumptions work. Out?  

You see we are not as afraid of these vehicles as threaten to take away jobs.  Well how about if we start thinking about just how many jobs  an economy with new jobs and new social participants might  make possible?

The next. Few versions of this  blog will address exact question...

Until than remember  that opinions should be respected however  those formed after experiences might hold more value.

Roll on!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...AND THIS JUST IS NOT

Yesterday there was some social media regarding a meeting sponsored the. Auto Makers association in Washington D.C.   The meeting was the second in a series of three scheduled meetings to discuss accessibility  in the autonomous vehicle industry.  

There are  an estimated 54 million people with disabilities in the US and their are. Millions and millions more senior citizens who will eventually  be expected to function in the world of future transportation.  Yet, the car makers  are scheduling. 3. Meetings in one of the most expensive, hardest places to  economically access cities. In the country and limiting the number of participants in order to  gather input with no binding decisions that are being guaranteed after these sessions.   So there is only one question?

How would an elderly blind. Guy from  Northern  Wisconsin  get his views included?  

Here are a few other questions.  With. The amount of money being invested. In the exploration and expansion of this product, is it too much to ask  that the department of. Transportation and the.builders hold at least one open forum in each state and on an annual. Basis.  Americans  in the public sector and the private sector will be investing millions no make that billions in the dev elopement of these products and processes—is it nreally too much to ask ?  Should each state be required to set up a disability and elderly  transportation  council?  You could sunset the. Group after. About 25 years when all has been decided and integrated.  

The questions could go on and on and on

And on

And on and on—

For now could the US department  of Transportation just establishes a Information and Resferral Office for this industr?  

Well maybe after the third  meeting all kinds of information will be released, however, given what was produced edafter.\ Tthe first meeting, I have real doubts.  

Come on it is simple.  People with disabilities and older citizens deserve. more information,  more independence, more input, and a much greater level of participation than is being demonstrated.  Like the  title says....

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND THIS IS NOT ENOUGH 

(Below find the link to the second  meetings tweet—but we should hear. more that a chirp regarding this critical matter!

https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/when-it-comes-aging-place-self-driving-cars-wont-save-us

BMW answering questions about technology but not about equality thoughts?

THE PROMISE OF SELF-DRIVING  IS REAL—BUT  IS IT FOR EVERYONE?

It is not good social media practice to send someone away from. A page and ask you to come back, however if you want to hit the link first, I won’t be  all that angry.  However, first can you think about this?  as you watched this  did you see any specific attention being paid to access for people with disabilities  or the elderly?   Did you hear anyone discussing how  the law in the US might be flexible enough to. Let  people with disabilities save assets in order to afford such a vehicle?  So while these things are coming these great vehicles, will everyone  who might. Benefit from this great tech be anywhere close to. Being able to. Use them?   

If you are an advocate for tech being. Something  that benefits people, or a believer in equality of any type and especially a disability advocate, please start contacting. Care makers and law makers and demanding that accesss be built in and promoted by any and every car makers  who are. Deep into the process of making  this technology a reality?

Okay here’s the link.  Enjoy your ride in a BMW well 

https://youtu.be/PhSooO33Eus

https://youtu.be/PhSooO33Eus

Electronica vehicles quiet? I hear crickets

WAYMO OFFERS FREE WIFI—WHO WILL OFFER  FREEDOM?

From time to time most people get a song stuck in their minds and it plays over and over and over again.  Well the world of self-driving must have a song stuck in their. Heads...”the let’s  merge until wee  can lead in a particular. Market  space song.  This week marks about the eighth week in a row that mergers  lead the story line.  Of course there were a few more states and cities  putting together idiosyncratic  laws. And regulations about self driving because no national leadership has emerged in the area yet.  

Then  there is always at least one headline about  consumer confidence in these vehicles and now this week WAYMO says they will have. WIFi.  

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

So What?  When are we going to hear transportation providers talk about true accessibility efforts?  When. Are the headlines going to  say “Toyota wo offer  three ways to achieve wheelchair access to their new. Electronic  Vehicle?  When is Ford going to acquire Freedom Scientific  so that all digital  screens in their  cars  have Jaws capability on all digital read-outs?  

I haven’t seen this happening yet and I’m not sure whether to  hold Ford (and others) responsible or maybe. It is time  people start targeting the “Jaws”team.  Maybe the “AT” folks need to  pitch themselves harder.  It’s a real problem that  there is no news  of access/mobility venders being tapped by traditional automakers and their new tech companies.  Is it’s problem  that results from  the fact that a wheelchair that has the electronics of a 1985 Atari costs  35 Grand and enjoys the status of a medical device so companies like. Invecare  (sp) don’t want to be exposed as extorting people with disabilities and their insurers?  It would be a crying shame if  al large manufacturer mass produced mobility. Devices that fit into their self-driving vehicles  and charged somewhere close to the actual cost of production for  that feature.  

In summary ther news in self-driving stays about the same for yet another month.  Company A is merging with Company B and buying  Company C  State  X is enacting  their own unique AV legislation.  Oh, and as far as affordable , accessible options for all?—Still crickets.