Google Cars

Well, the first week of class while brainstorming ideas for our topics, we discussed the new invention of Google Cars. Yesterday, in one of my other classes, the topic came up again. I think within the next few years we will see these cars on the roads and highways. Very scary thought! Even scarier to think that they drive themselves, while the "driver" could be doing something else, such as texting, eating, reading, you name it. Another DISTRACTION that has been added to our society. These cars drive for you and park and maneuver through traffic even on the busiest days. What happens when a child runs out into the street, does the car know how to break!? The "driver" could be reading or texting and definitely not paying attention. This new technology is a scary thought, but supposedly seven cars have been tested driving 1,000 miles without human interaction. I personally don't agree with this technology because computer systems go awry and what happens when the computer inside the car decides to freeze and then the human in the car isn't paying attention because they are too distracted. The whole idea is a great break through for technology, but I just don't think it is a reasonable idea with the way computer systems fail.


I decided that I wanted to know more information, having the topic being brought up in more than one class. I ironically googled it and a new york times article came up. ( I will post at the bottom) Having read the article, the google car is not 100% ready for mass production any time soon which is a big relief. The article states, "The car can be programmed for different driving personalities — from cautious, in which it is more likely to yield to another car, to aggressive, where it is more likely to go first."  That is insane! The car knows how to drive because of a computer operated system and can tell you personalities. I honestly am scared to see what comes of this idea.


I really hope I am not the only one troubled by this idea. It is sad to think that the world is coming to this. First, we had computers, then cell phones. then e readers, and now a car that drives for you?! I can only imagine how much the death rate will go through the roof if these cars are ever mass produced. It is a really horrific thought. People don't talk on a phone or know how to communicate anymore because of the texting generation, what is going to happen when people don't drive anymore because of the google car era. Is America becoming somewhat of a robot culture? Do we really want to become such 'robots' or do we want to keep learning and growing in knowledge so that we present ourselves as literate people? The future is in question, but for now we can all start to think about what our lives will be like once technology takes over for good.




New York Times article - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html