To the left, to the left
One could think back on the time when self-driving cars were just a piece of fiction; when it perhaps brought the image of the anthropomorphic Lightning McQueen (and with which most likely a sense of nostalgia). Self-driving cars were once a vision, a goal that promised great technological advancement, a great feat in the realm of transportation. And one could think back and wonder how far we have come since then, from creating a vision and now, finally having realized it. All of humankind could celebrate, perhaps.
We now live in an era where professional drivers are no longer the most wanted on a recruitment list. Human effort has greatly been discounted with the advent of these self-propelling machines. One need not necessarily know how to drive to travel in their cars from place A to B, Friday nights need not restrict the designated driver from drowning in alcohol, children can reach places safely (without a chaperone too, if we might take it a step further), parallel parking no longer requires clumsy human intervention and most importantly, turn signals are now used appropriately. Having lived in the pre "supposedly sentient" cars era, I can vouch for the lack of simple traffic etiquette and adherence to rules that plagued most drivers. Sometimes, it was necessary to go the extra mile (literally) to illuminate a certain lousy driver on why using the indicator, the magical device on their steering column, was a blessing to the vehicles close behind.
But enough about the past. The future is now and I can proudly say that I have lived through a revolution. A long life I have lived alone, but the voice through my dashboard often keeps me company as I sit back in my car, pushing through mountain mists and serene landscapes. There is a great deal a smart car can accomplish, but oft-times it's hard not to look back to the era of simplicity. When driving was much more laborious and required practiced skill, when it was up to us to maintain regular checks and keep the car up and running, when we learned numerous road safety rules only to neglect them (and sometimes with consequence) - this extra effort added some value, a meaning to the overall experience. This meant that we were mostly in control of our own vehicles, and by extension, our cars suffered at our errors. The flaws and shortcomings, the loopholes and rule breaking are all what defines human experience and shifting through the smooth traffic today, without much incident, somehow does not feel natural. This whole system of smooth, gliding, automated cars is almost too perfect.
There is nothing like trying to fix your car after it breaks down or manually pushing it forward to get it started, sneaking out with your friends late at night, and driving as a teenager (dangerous prospects but a learning experience, nevertheless). Kids these days cannot sneak out the same way, the cars now use an alert system every time an underage kid gets a car started without authorization from an adult. I mostly enjoyed the prospect of driving due to the thrill and rejuvenation I sought from it; it is always a pleasant experience to drive your way through long, picturesque roads. It is not that manual driving is no longer possible, the option is available in all cars, but it hardly feels the same, and the experience is somewhat limiting.
With the 2050 Reform, the automation of all cars within a five year period has been mandated by law, and fuel inefficient cars have been outlawed completely. The latter refers to all cars that do not fall under the 'Smart Car' label and are now only to be seen in museums or can be bought at an exorbitant rate (but can only be used as a showpiece). I do use the manual mode on my car from time to time just to revisit the old days, but with every day, I become more and more aware of how trapped I am in my own car. The control no longer lies within my effort; I am now a passive driver, a mere addition to my own car. Knowing that my car is somewhat 'sentient', and can keep track of many things about me and even predict future patterns of travel and so much more unnerves me as much as it amazes.
I know for a fact that the artificial intelligence encoded into my car cannot assume a dominating persona of its own that could wipe out humanity; it sounds absurd. AI exists merely to mimic human intelligence not necessarily substitute it completely, but is it possible that this can happen? Could I be endangered by my own car? For the most part, I think not and if blame is ever to be placed, it would be placed on ourselves. We brought this automation upon ourselves. We aimed to achieve new technological heights, and now that we have, we lament over simpler times (at least I do). I guess humans are never truly satisfied.
Suffice to say, even though my car can simulate test scenarios to teach a person how to drive, and provide instructions at every step (an impressive feat really), nothing can come close to my father losing his patience, as he sat by my side, reaching out to steady my trembling hands on the steering wheel, yelling, "Keep to the left of the road, to the left!"
One could think back on the time when self-driving cars were just a piece of fiction; when it perhaps brought the image of the anthropomorphic Lightning McQueen (and with which most likely a sense of nostalgia). Self-driving cars were once a vision, a goal that promised great technological advancement, a great feat in the realm of transportation. And one could think back and wonder how far we have come since then, from creating a vision and now, finally having realized it. All of humankind could celebrate, perhaps.
We now live in an era where professional drivers are no longer the most wanted on a recruitment list. Human effort has greatly been discounted with the advent of these self-propelling machines. One need not necessarily know how to drive to travel in their cars from place A to B, Friday nights need not restrict the designated driver from drowning in alcohol, children can reach places safely (without a chaperone too, if we might take it a step further), parallel parking no longer requires clumsy human intervention and most importantly, turn signals are now used appropriately. Having lived in the pre "supposedly sentient" cars era, I can vouch for the lack of simple traffic etiquette and adherence to rules that plagued most drivers. Sometimes, it was necessary to go the extra mile (literally) to illuminate a certain lousy driver on why using the indicator, the magical device on their steering column, was a blessing to the vehicles close behind.
But enough about the past. The future is now and I can proudly say that I have lived through a revolution. A long life I have lived alone, but the voice through my dashboard often keeps me company as I sit back in my car, pushing through mountain mists and serene landscapes. There is a great deal a smart car can accomplish, but oft-times it's hard not to look back to the era of simplicity. When driving was much more laborious and required practiced skill, when it was up to us to maintain regular checks and keep the car up and running, when we learned numerous road safety rules only to neglect them (and sometimes with consequence) - this extra effort added some value, a meaning to the overall experience. This meant that we were mostly in control of our own vehicles, and by extension, our cars suffered at our errors. The flaws and shortcomings, the loopholes and rule breaking are all what defines human experience and shifting through the smooth traffic today, without much incident, somehow does not feel natural. This whole system of smooth, gliding, automated cars is almost too perfect.
There is nothing like trying to fix your car after it breaks down or manually pushing it forward to get it started, sneaking out with your friends late at night, and driving as a teenager (dangerous prospects but a learning experience, nevertheless). Kids these days cannot sneak out the same way, the cars now use an alert system every time an underage kid gets a car started without authorization from an adult. I mostly enjoyed the prospect of driving due to the thrill and rejuvenation I sought from it; it is always a pleasant experience to drive your way through long, picturesque roads. It is not that manual driving is no longer possible, the option is available in all cars, but it hardly feels the same, and the experience is somewhat limiting.
With the 2050 Reform, the automation of all cars within a five year period has been mandated by law, and fuel inefficient cars have been outlawed completely. The latter refers to all cars that do not fall under the 'Smart Car' label and are now only to be seen in museums or can be bought at an exorbitant rate (but can only be used as a showpiece). I do use the manual mode on my car from time to time just to revisit the old days, but with every day, I become more and more aware of how trapped I am in my own car. The control no longer lies within my effort; I am now a passive driver, a mere addition to my own car. Knowing that my car is somewhat 'sentient', and can keep track of many things about me and even predict future patterns of travel and so much more unnerves me as much as it amazes.
I know for a fact that the artificial intelligence encoded into my car cannot assume a dominating persona of its own that could wipe out humanity; it sounds absurd. AI exists merely to mimic human intelligence not necessarily substitute it completely, but is it possible that this can happen? Could I be endangered by my own car? For the most part, I think not and if blame is ever to be placed, it would be placed on ourselves. We brought this automation upon ourselves. We aimed to achieve new technological heights, and now that we have, we lament over simpler times (at least I do). I guess humans are never truly satisfied.
Suffice to say, even though my car can simulate test scenarios to teach a person how to drive, and provide instructions at every step (an impressive feat really), nothing can come close to my father losing his patience, as he sat by my side, reaching out to steady my trembling hands on the steering wheel, yelling, "Keep to the left of the road, to the left!"
Sreenithi Meenakshi V
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