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csziggy

(34,189 posts)

25. Perhaps they would not have to own one, just hire it like a taxi

Thu Jun 23, 2016, 06:28 PM

Jun 2016

My 95 year old mother lives in a small town with no mass transit and no taxi service. Her home caretakers are supposed to have cars so they can take her places, but their cars are not reliable or safe. My sister who lived 50 miles away visits once or twice a week to take Mom to the doctor and grocery shopping. If it weren't for her, Mom would have to move into a nursing home which would accelerate her dementia.

I could see a company - or even the town - having one or two driverless cars on call, just like city people can call for a taxi or Uber. It wouldn't work for Mom at this point - her dementia has worsened in the last two years - but for many of the elderly in that town that should not be driving, it would be wonderful.

By the time I get so I can't drive I might be able to adjust to the idea of a driverless car to either own or that I could call to take me places. If I take after my Mom, I have a good 25 + years before I have to worry about it, though.

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With Driverless Cars, a Safety Dilemma Arises: Would you buy a car that might decide to kill you? [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 OP

A rather contrived dilemma whatthehey Jun 2016 #1

There are always going to be edge cases where it becomes an issue. Kentonio Jun 2016 #4

But programming doesn't work like that whatthehey Jun 2016 #7

Programming works exactly like that. Kentonio Jun 2016 #9

No - it works with input X=output Y not with every possible scenario linked to a specific response whatthehey Jun 2016 #12

It doesn't need to have every possible scenario factored in. Kentonio Jun 2016 #14

If a device is intelligent enough to exist in a complex human environment... Jerry442 Jun 2016 #29

Values aren't necessary, just priority commands. Value driven AI is a fair way off yet. Kentonio Jun 2016 #33

Like it or not, our values often show up in our technology. Jerry442 Jun 2016 #34

That is a very interesting point. stevenleser Jun 2016 #46

I agree for two reasons stevenleser Jun 2016 #45

I agree it is very contrived and provides cause to wonder abouit the result will be used. Todays_Illusion Jun 2016 #59

Why do so many will smith movies turn into real life problems? n/t leeroysphitz Jun 2016 #2

.... giftedgirl77 Jun 2016 #11

Because most Will Smith movies are based on real life problems anigbrowl Jun 2016 #19

Keen way for a group to plot to kill someone -- simply step in front of their car and . . . Journeyman Jun 2016 #3

One clever guy could commit that murder all by himself: tblue37 Jul 2016 #65

From an engineering and decision making process, ManiacJoe Jun 2016 #5

I haven't trusted a car since I read Christine. DawgHouse Jun 2016 #6

I agree with the survey response. Glassunion Jun 2016 #8

Well, I certainly can't see any reason why we should be slightly suspicious of... Shandris Jun 2016 #10

This is LWolf Jun 2016 #13

Yep. Statistically flying is *much* safer than traveling by car, yet people fear flying much more-- tblue37 Jul 2016 #66

"Would you buy a car that is less likely to kill you" is a better question jberryhill Jun 2016 #15

Ah, the Sweet Meteor of Death... DeadLetterOffice Jun 2016 #38

I expect liability issues and questions to be a huge hurdle Lee-Lee Jun 2016 #16

Simple answer - I will never buy a driverless car. Daemonaquila Jun 2016 #17

Get back to me when you're 90 years old. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 #18

Will 90 year olds be able to afford a robot driver? HereSince1628 Jun 2016 #20

Self-driving technology isn't likely to be terribly expensive Codeine Jun 2016 #23

Perhaps they would not have to own one, just hire it like a taxi csziggy Jun 2016 #25

Yes, I can sort of see robot taxis/vans as something that could work HereSince1628 Jun 2016 #27

For elders it would be good to have some protections csziggy Jun 2016 #28

This reminds me of one 5-year period when I kept getting called for jury duty. Over and over again, tblue37 Jul 2016 #70

Yeah, my Dad kept getting called the same way csziggy Jul 2016 #74

Without aids I am profoundly deaf. With them, I still can't understand most speech unless tblue37 Jul 2016 #77

The rich get old, too. Uben Jun 2016 #36

We need individual transport pods--like in "Minority Report," or "The Jetsons": tblue37 Jul 2016 #69

I don't even use cruise control when driving. nt tblue37 Jul 2016 #67

When I read this part of your reply I thought about velcro sneakers: tblue37 Jul 2016 #68

My daughter's physio therapist hates Velcro shoes. EllieBC Jul 2016 #73

I'm not ever buying one, so no dilemma for me... Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #21

Many of the technologies involved are already available today Major Nikon Jun 2016 #37

As long as I'm the one in total control... Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #52

You probably aren't already Major Nikon Jun 2016 #54

You're conflating driver aids with full automation... Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #55

Please read post #37 again Major Nikon Jun 2016 #57

What would a real-life human driver do? JustABozoOnThisBus Jun 2016 #22

Panic-lock the brakes while turning the car, Codeine Jun 2016 #24

I'm guessing the 1% will be able to pay for the "personal protection priority" option. n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2016 #26

I was going to go there. You beat me to it. NT Jerry442 Jun 2016 #31

Was there a follow up "What if the 10 pedestrians are Kardashians?" question? flvegan Jun 2016 #30

You'll have an option. trof Jun 2016 #32

"I'm sorry. I didn't get that answer. Would you say that again?" mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 #41

This message was self-deleted by its author mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 #43

Hell to the no! Uben Jun 2016 #35

As a career machinist, I'd bet you've had close calls with human error. JustABozoOnThisBus Jun 2016 #40

Oh yeah! Uben Jul 2016 #75

Considering how often your cell phone drops calls or your tablet freezes up or gets tblue37 Jul 2016 #71

When given the choice while driving what wou9ld You do? One_Life_To_Give Jun 2016 #39

I will never be interested... sendero Jun 2016 #42

Driverless Cars Should Kill Passengers To Save Lives - But Then People Won't Buy Them mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 #44

Cars are already becoming self aware. Initech Jun 2016 #47

Is that an accurate description of what happened? mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2016 #48

That's what I heard happened. Initech Jun 2016 #49

If an airline pilot ever had to choose whether to kill everyone on the plane in order to save a much TacoD Jun 2016 #50

A PSA is needed anoNY42 Jun 2016 #51

With my last job I was driving all time on Florida streets. I'm all for driverless cars. RAFisher Jun 2016 #56

Ouch anoNY42 Jul 2016 #63

I wouldn't buy a driverless car. Vinca Jun 2016 #53

Right now we are all at the mercey of other drivers and have managed to reduce hiway deaths/per Todays_Illusion Jun 2016 #58

I would trust the driverless car over a normal car, unless the driver is a woman. Little Tich Jun 2016 #60

So you are saying pedestrians would be walking where they obviously aren't supposed to be alphafemale Jul 2016 #61

Self-Driving {sic} Tesla Was Involved in Fatal Crash, U.S. Says mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2016 #62

Driverless will be the only choice in 10 years. Darb Jul 2016 #64

People are terrible drivers and scare the shit out of me killbotfactory Jul 2016 #72

A car is not a conscious being. Agnosticsherbet Jul 2016 #76