I am always interested in assistive technology from the technological
standpoint, and would like to try driving the car for the fun of it,
in a place where i wouldn't be in harm's way. But i am concerned
about the blind people who read articles like this, and expect that
they will be off the bus any time soon. it ain't gonna
happen. Because even if this becomes technologically possible, no
state will license a blind driver, and no insurance company will
insure one. i have used enough technology to know that the best
technology can fail. Technologicaly, airplanes can fly themselves,
but i do not know of any airline that has stopped employing
pilots. Technologically, the Bay Area Rapid Transit trains in the
San francisco Bay area can run themselves, but on every train there
is a human operator just in case the computers fail, and they
have. So don't burn your bus pass any time soon.
Andy
At 02:14 PM 8/8/2009, you wrote:
>That's the dumbest project the NFB has come up with to
>date! There's enough sighted people on the roads who shouldn't be driving.
>
>And what does this message have to do with this list anyway?
>
>Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Cox" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 1:18 PM
>Subject: Blind Driving to come soon!
>
>
>Hello All, Thought this article might be of interest to all.
>
>20 blind people are able to test drive dune buggy designed by Va.
>Tech students
>02/08/2009 12:56:00 AM
>THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
>COLLEGE PARK, Maryland - Several blind people were able to get
>behind the wheel of
>a new high-tech vehicle designed by Virginia Tech engineering students.
>Twenty blind people took turns manoeuvring the retrofitted dune
>buggy Friday in a
>parking lot at the University of Maryland. The test drive capped a
>National Federation
>for the Blind summer camp for 200 blind youth from across the country.
>Virginia Tech was the only university to take on a 2004 challenge
>from the federation
>to build a vehicle that could let blind people drive.
>The buggy they designed uses a laser sensor to figure out the road
>ahead. A special
>vibrating vest worn by drivers communicates speed and warns when to
>stop. And a headset
>relays voice commands signalling which way to turn.
>
>
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