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"We are all repositories for genetically-encoded information that we're all spreading back and forth amongst each other, all the time. We're just lousy with information."
- Neal Stephenson
 |
| Driverless Car | ||
| A car that drives itself; an autonomous vehicle. |
John Poorson, inventor, was inspired by an all-to-common circumstance:
"And that is just one more reason why the average human being should not be allowed to drive such a powerful machine!" he mused to himself. "it has taken the combined intelligence of all the scientists of modern time to perfect the automobile and yet it is sold to and driven by any moronic fool who is able to gather together the few dollars necessary to buy a secondhand one."
Now, let's see what he created in response to this incident.
The glancing blow from the recklessly driven automobile had spun him into the gutter, but had injured little except his pride and his clothing.
| "I want to show you something new in the way of an automobile."
"Nothing new about this," laughed Babson, scornfully. "One of our best and most familiar models." "How about the steering wheel?" "Where is it?" "I do not need one. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Now watch me. We are going into traffic..." |
| From The Living Machine,
by David H. Keller. Published by Wonder Stories in 1935 Additional resources -
|
Just think of the advantages of the self driving car!
As far as I know, this is the first reference to the idea of an autonomous automobile.
Compare to the Automatic Control Car from Arthur C. Clarke's Imperial Earth.
Old people began to cross the continent in their own cars. Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting. The blind for the first time were safe. Parents found they could more safely send their children to school in the new car than in the old cars with a chauffeur.
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| Ancient Russian Walking Excavator Would Be Perfect RV |
| Quiet Electric Cars Law Finalized By US Transportation Department |
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I don't need it to go fast, it just needs to amble along.
'The program raced up the screen one scan line at a time, subtly smoothing, deleting and coloring.'
