“Imagine getting into your car, typing—or, better yet speaking—a location into your vehicle’s interface, then letting it drive you to your destination while you read a book, surf the web, or nap. Self-driving vehicles—the stuff of science fiction since the first roads were paved—are coming, and they’re going to radically change what it’s like to get from point A to point B.
He pointed to the front-crash prevention systems that for several years have been able to warn drivers of an impending obstacle and apply the brakes if they don’t react fast enough.
Who needs a car made with heavier-gauge steel and eight airbags (not to mention a body shop) if accidents are so rare? Who needs a parking spot close to work if your car can drive you there, park itself miles away, only to pick you up later? Who needs to buy a flight from Boston to Cleveland when you can leave in the evening, sleep much of the way, and arrive in the morning?”
By thinking about the things that autonomous vehicles can replace, designers can find what they need to anticipate and design for. Cars can feel like extensions of the living room, bedroom, office, and coffee shop with automated drive through designation. With business involvement, it will be tricky to know which industry will drastically change first, so paying attention to traveling habits of the public can help build a better vehicle. Private owned vehicles could dominate, then ride sharing takes over. Less traveling may be required in general with enhances at home with social technology (upgraded zoom/teams/facetime). Automobiles are such an integrated part of society it will be difficult to tell which industry will swing first.
