When science fiction becomes real. This is happening more and more, and ruining my chances to be seen as prophetic. That aside, a new tech in development that is being supported by some major groups, is V2V or Vehicle to Vehicle communications.
Essentially, V2V is a technology that will allow cars to share crucial information with the rest of the vehiclular traffic. Ideally, information such as speed, destination, passenger type (children, disabled, etc) could all be shared, among many other things. This information, along with advanced driving protocols, would allow cars to drive themselves. If you consider that cars could also share information with speed signs and other objects external to them, then you truly have the beginnings of an automatic traffic system with self-driven cars.
The danger, of course, as with all communications technology, is hacking and serious work would have to be done to ensure security (not the least of which would be manual overrides in the cars). Otherwise, industrious, tech-aware terrorists could do massive damage.
The single negative aside, however, I very much like the idea of V2V. I've never been too partial on cars for various reasons and this technology single-handedly addresses all of them except the environment issue. Although, more efficient traffic movement would have a benefit on the environment. I'm sure that the insurance companies will like it too, and they will likely be the major driving force behind it's implementation. No average bloke will be able to afford their insurance premiums unless they have an auto-drive.
So, I've told you what V2V is, and you can see the obvious ways it could change our lives, but what about some of the less obvious ways?
1. New Look Cars
My favourite change would be to the design of cars themselves. Instead of being this box you sit in, uncomfortably, for hours on a trip, the family car is transformed. There would no longer be a need for the directional seating, and the interior could be made larger, with a reccessed 'safety steering wheel' only needed for emergencies.
This would mean that cars could literally become the mobile office oft wished for with deskspace, computer monitors, webcams, wi-fi and printers included. Or they could become a family area for those weekend drives, perhaps with a play area in the middle of a circle of seats. Or maybe a makeshift cinema or gaming centre.
I particularly like the idea of a mobile 'digital cave' where all interior walls are video screens. It would have many applications in industry and entertainment.
2. New Style Commuting
Just immagine how commuting could change. With the mobile office, the commute could easily become part of the work day, with little loss of productivity. In extreme cases, one might consider a 3+3+3 day, where there is a 3 hour morning commute followed by 3 hours in the office to touch base, phycially interact, and 'do' lunch, followed by 3 hours of work on the commute home. All without the constant interuptions of home or office.
So, not only would we not need to live in huge urban centres but the commute would be much less stressful, as there wouldn't be the same worry of getting to the office on time (except, of course, for physical meetings--although meetings could be teleconferencing from the car). This could mean a more even density of people across a country, and overall, less stress on the infrastructure.
3. Second-degree Effects
3a. The obvious use
It's interesting to think how such cars would be used away from work. Suddenly there is another room, mobile, discreet, with many interesting toys inside. Possibly the auto-drive car would make affair more easily managed, as 'extra-curricular activities' could be accomplished during the commute. If not physical, then a well connected mobile room could allow for porn viewing or webcam sex on the trip.
3b. New-ish industries
While there are many people who don't enjoy driving, there are still many who do. For those people, 'freeform' driving tracks would most likely spring up and family-affordable rates. You could go for an afternoon of driving on the weekend with friends or family, if you desired. Perhaps racing, or just touring. All kinds of theme tracks may develop.
For gamers who enjoy the true driving experience, I could see more realistic driving simulators coming to the public. Simulators that let one experience the gs in the turns and the stomach churning of high-speed hills.
True, both of these already exist in some form, but I think it's not difficult to anticipate that they would become more common.
4. Mind-controlled cars
Another interesting side-effect of the autocar, with it's much greater computerization, is the mind-controlled car. Researchers are beginning to experiment with computers reading minds, and are having some amazing successes. A car with such information built in could be an obvious extension of the combined technologies.
Of course, most people would have no need of such thing, especially as the car is self-driven and voice-recognition would be much cheaper anyway. But for those with certain disabilities, mind-controlled cars would be an incredible boon. Suddenly, they can have and use--possibly independently--what everyone else can.
In Conclusion
So, it's probably good to start getting used to the idea of not driving your car. My personal estimate is that within 20 years, all cars will be auto-drive (20 years instead of 10, to allow for the obvious outcry and resistance to the idea that will inevitably arise). For financial and health-related reasons, if no others. And I, for one, welcome our new car overlords. :)
Insight and longevity be yours.
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