Emerging Technologies and Automobiles PART ONE

Technologies in Development

   I think the less likely one of these automobiles to happen is The Terrafugia TF-X (flying car.) The reason I think this is because it is going to take years and years to even properly develop, and will need a lot more work. By the time it's done, it will probably cost way too much. There may only be a select few people who would own it at first, for a while. Plus, the amount of years it's going to take to perfect it and to test it will take so long that I'd be long dead and gone, probably, before it is on the road. It seems almost unrealistic to me and very weird, but it will be the future and I won't be alive to see it, though.
   In my opinion the self-driving car (Nissan's autonomous car) will have the biggest impact on our society. There would be little-to-no accidents, and you could just chill while your car does the work on its own and I think that's extremely cool.

   The technology that I personally think will be the first to happen (and that I hope will happen very soon) is Ford's Driver Workload Estimator. It would be so good and benefit the driver a lot - especially if they're under a lot of stress. Most of the time stressed out people can drive a little off. I think this would be an extreme relief for drivers. Less accidents would occur, too. This could very quickly and very soon become our newest reality (and best reality.)

   I very well believe that Ford's "Driver Workload Estimator" could benefit drivers in the best way possible. It seems almost surreal - but also a major possible reality. It amazes me so much. Driver's could be so much less stressed out with this in their lives, & that's a good thing. They wouldn't have road-rage as much I think. And, less accidents caused from crazy drivers who are under much stress.

   My thoughts on the hybrid-car or flying-car are that they seem ridiculous and not realistic. I feel like we have planes and cars as separate things for a reason. It's very scary. Even watching the video made me anxious because this could cause so many problems, and it just would not be for me, at all. I can't think of any advantages this would have for us other than the fact it could make you look futuristic (but it just looks funny) and you'd feel like you were one of the Jetson's.

   I'm on both sides to this. It's very great that this would cause less accidents. But, the feeling of driving and being in control of the wheel is a pretty good feeling. I like Google & Ford's design and make of the self-driving cars - because the steering wheels and pedals are still there. In my own opinion I think yes they're a good idea - just keep the option open, having the steering wheel and pedals kept there also. Less accidents still, because if you wanted a break, were stressed, needed to answer a phone-call or text, or just wanted to sit back and relax as your car drives you - there is still the option of not driving your own car because the car can do it for you.

   

   

Looking at the History of the Automobile

Carl Benz

For around 120 years, cars have been around.

A patent is a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.

When Carl Benz obtains a patent in January of 1886 for his invention, he labels the automobile as "vehicle with gas engine."

Benz's wife Berta is the first to drive the automobile along with her two sons - but Carl had no idea that she did.

The axial pivot steering system solved the problem of having to steer the front two wheels simultaneously.

When the two companies merged, they became the common known name "Mercedes Benz."

Carl Benz lived to see his dream come true. Other pioneers in technology probably never could have experienced that.


Henry Ford and the Model T

Henry Ford had three employees who came to him inspiring him with the idea of having the actual assembly line move - rather than have people move down the assembly line. This way the workers could just stay in one place, making it easier.

The employees were treated fairly when it came to their wage, and work was simple. Therefore - people were a lot more committed to his plant and stayed longer as a result.

The first Model T Ford vehicles costed a little over $1,000.

The price then dropped to $800, and again to $365 (which in this day & age would be $7,000). The reason I think it dropped so dramatically was possibly because it was becoming more of a common thing to have a vehicle, the automobile was becoming the dominant form of transportation all across the U.S.

After the automobile started to become so popular as a form of transportation, people sort of had that mentality of feeling more free, being able to go wherever they want whenever they wanted to. It offered people the satisfaction of just being able to drive for fun, to visit people, or to go places faster. People got a sense of personal freedom.




My Video Selections

The Ford Edsel:
- has gone down in history as the synonym of failure, was a flop.

- named after Henry Ford's only son.

- people did not like it because it was ugly.


Tucker's Dream Impacts Auto Industry:

- Tucker planned to start a company from scratch.

- designed a car, putting a lot of emphasis on the word "safety."

- money quickly dried up for him, only 50 cars were ever built.