The arrival of self-driving cars poses many society-technology challenges. For example, since self-driving cars do not possess deep-seated instincts for self-preservation, they could be programmed to react in almost any way in the event of a collision.
Innovation is a hallmark of good design that we discuss in our STV 202 class. According to noted designer Dieter Rams, it is important to distinguish between true innovation and mere novelty. True innovation improves the essential function of a design in a given category. Novelty is change for some other purpose, such as artistic expression or gimmickery.
When people think of delivery drones, they likely picture a small aircraft bringing them some tacos or the laundry soap they forgot at the store. Of course, drones can also be used to deliver things for people whose needs are much more basic.
A Slate post by Madeleine Clare Elish explores the role that human drivers or pilots play in semi-automated vehicles. Semi-automated vehicles have features that take over some, but not all, driving tasks.
A simple example would be cruise control, now standardly available in cars, or the autopilot function of modern airliners.
The World Economic Forum recently released its annual jobs report. As Emma Teitel of the Toronto Star points out, one of the issues flagged by the report is potential loss of 7.1 million jobs in the "office and administrative jobs" category by 2020.
British insurance company Adrian Flux has issued an insurance policy to cover self-driving cars. Highlights of the policy include coverage in the following circumstances:
Even failure of drivers to take manual control in these cases is covered.
However, other situations are not covered, including: