September 16, 2013
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I just took a test ride in one of Google’s driverless cars at Google’s Zeitgeist conference… and the amazing thing is that it didn’t feel amazing at all. It felt totally natural. Of course, there was a guy sitting in the front seat, but he was not touching the steering wheel – just like my friends who make me nervous by gesturing while they talk and drive.
Instinctively, people compare a self-driving car to perfection – or to their self-perception of themselves as good drivers. But, since I’m always only a passenger, I can compare it to reality: distracted taxi drivers arguing with their girlfriends on their cell phones (despite regulations to the contrary), my friends explaining their newest startup or typing into Google Maps on their iPhones, other drivers losing their tempers. Personally, I’d much rather rely on a machine that pays perfect attention, than on your typical distracted driver.
Crazy as the idea seemed at first, a driverless car is the perfect application of many of Google’s talents. As hardware, it should have a much bigger impact – and is harder to implement – than Google Glass. It also leans in to the current trend of people, younger ones especially, driving less and walking, biking or taking public transit more. The reasons are many – see this report – and they probably are also reflected in the (partial) shift of sexiness from Silicon Valley to San Francisco and New York City.
Technology has made huge changes in the appeal of mass transit simply by making it transparent: What bus will get me where I’m going? When does the next one arrive and how long will it take?
Now IT can similarly transform personal transit. It’s no longer something you have to do yourself. Remember "Take the bus! Leave the driving to us!" That was Greyhound’s slogan circa 1956. How about "Google Drive – keeps you alive!" even while you text, talk or check email to your heart’s content.
Featured on:Big Ideas & Innovation
Posted by:Esther Dyson
