I guess half or more of the blind community by now knows that the Google car
has  been tested and tried in the United States. I hope the Google youtube
development team is not behind this project, you can just imagine if they
were, how many unlabelled buttons you would find in the car!

Here is the story for those who missed the train:

Web giant Google has already changed the way we search the internet, watch
video and navigate.

But the firm's latest breakthrough could be its biggest innovation yet.

The company promises that its self-driving car will enable blind people to
drive, as the vehicle takes over nearly all the functions of the car
currently controlled by humans.

The project has been several years in the making, and was officially
unveiled in October 2010.

But recently it has taken a further step forward, after putting blind people
in the driving seat and inviting them to test the technology which could
revolutionise their lives.

Google has released a video showing Steve Mahan, dubbed 'Self-Driving Car
User #0000000001', using the car to carry out his daily routine.

Mr Mahan, who is 95 per cent blind, drives to buy a taco and pick up
dry-cleaning - activities which may seem humdrum, but which are shut off to
many blind people who do not have a companion or carer to accompany them.

 Home again: The car could revolutionise the lives of blind people like Mr
Mahan

Although Google employees sat with the driver in the Toyota Prius, they were
not involved with the vehicle's navigation during the journey around Morgan
Hill, California.

Instead the car, which was patented in December, uses cameras, radar and
lasers to move safely around pre-programmed locations.

Mr Mahan's test drive leaves him clearly delighted with the life-changing
vehicle as he jokes: 'Look ma, no hands... and no feet!'

At the end of the journey, he tells his passengers: 'You guys get out, I've
got places I have to go.'

 Hi-tech: The car was first announced in October 2010 and patented last year

'The concept of it is pretty awesome,' Eric Bridges, a spokesman for the
American Council of the Blind, told Fox News.

'They're helping to change the world in a lot of ways.'

But a lot more needs to be worked out before the cars hit the road without
the direct supervision of Google engineers.

It would be a brave government which issued driver's licences to the blind -
but the wonders of technology could still make it a reality.

Watch the video and enjoy the unlabelled buttons on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE

Mujtaba Merchant

Bangalore, India

The only thought I have for
now concerning this: would I
find an organisation that
would ??assure this car? If a
seeing person wants to drive a
car, he/she needs a driving
licence, and after buying the
car, you need assurances, for
when you cause an accident,
your assurance organisation
would pay the damage-claims.
Well which organisation would
deliver an assurance to a
blind person? If something on
the gps or radar fails, if the
build-in pc has a hickup and
the blind person causes an
accident, did the car causes
the accident or the blind
person?

I prefer an accessible
internet +accessible services
and accessible smart phones,
above a self-driving car.

Best, Katty
----- Oorspronkelijk
bericht -----
Van: Mujtaba Merchant
Aan:
accessible@googlegroups.com
Verzonden: dinsdag 22 mei 2012
15:29
Onderwerp: The New Buzz Google
Car

I guess half or more of the
blind community by now knows
that the Google car has  been
tested and tried in the United
States. I hope the Google
youtube development team is
not behind this project, you
can just imagine if they were,
how many unlabelled buttons
you would find in the car!

Here is the story for those
who missed the train:

Web giant Google has already
changed the way we search the
internet, watch video and
navigate.

But the firm's latest
breakthrough could be its
biggest innovation yet.

The company promises that its
self-driving car will enable
blind people to drive, as the
vehicle takes over nearly all
the functions of the car
currently controlled by
humans.

The project has been several
years in the making, and was
officially unveiled in October
2010.

But recently it has taken a
further step forward, after
putting blind people in the
driving seat and inviting them
to test the technology which
could revolutionise their
lives.

Google has released a video
showing Steve Mahan, dubbed
'Self-Driving Car User
#0000000001', using the car to
carry out his daily routine.

Mr Mahan, who is 95 per cent
blind, drives to buy a taco
and pick up dry-cleaning -
activities which may seem
humdrum, but which are shut
off to many blind people who
do not have a companion or
carer to accompany them.

 Home again: The car could
revolutionise the lives of
blind people like Mr Mahan

Although Google employees sat
with the driver in the Toyota
Prius, they were not involved
with the vehicle's navigation
during the journey around
Morgan Hill, California.

Instead the car, which was
patented in December, uses
cameras, radar and lasers to
move safely around
pre-programmed locations.

Mr Mahan's test drive leaves
him clearly delighted with the
life-changing vehicle as he
jokes: 'Look ma, no hands...
and no feet!'

At the end of the journey, he
tells his passengers: 'You
guys get out, I've got places
I have to go.'

 Hi-tech: The car was first
announced in October 2010 and
patented last year

'The concept of it is pretty
awesome,' Eric Bridges, a
spokesman for the American
Council of the Blind, told Fox
News.

'They're helping to change the
world in a lot of ways.'

But a lot more needs to be
worked out before the cars hit
the road without the direct
supervision of Google
engineers.

It would be a brave government
which issued driver's licences
to the blind - but the wonders
of technology could still make
it a reality.

Watch the video and enjoy the
unlabelled buttons on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE

Mujtaba Merchant

Bangalore, India

--
You received this message
because you are subscribed to
the Google Groups "accessible"
group.
To post to this group, send
email to
accessible@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this
group, send email to
accessible+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this
group at
http://groups.google.com/group/accessible?hl=en.

And the word in the United States is in insurance.

Gabe Vega
Sent from my iPhone
(623) 565-9357

On May 22, 2012, at 6:42 AM, "katty geltmeyer" <kattygeltme...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the correct word.
----- Oorspronkelijk
bericht -----
Van: Gabe Vega Via Iphone4S
Aan:
accessible@googlegroups.com
CC:
<accessible@googlegroups.com>
Verzonden: dinsdag 22 mei 2012
17:30
Onderwerp: Re: The New Buzz
Google Car

And the word in the United
States is in insurance.

Gabe Vega
Sent from my iPhone
(623) 565-9357

On May 22, 2012, at 6:42 AM,
"katty geltmeyer"
<kattygeltme...@gmail.com>
wrote:

  The only thought I have for
now concerning this: would I
find an organisation that
would ??assure this car? If a
seeing person wants to drive a
car, he/she needs a driving
licence, and after buying the
car, you need assurances, for
when you cause an accident,
your assurance organisation
would pay the damage-claims.
Well which organisation would
deliver an assurance to a
blind person? If something on
the gps or radar fails, if the
build-in pc has a hickup and
the blind person causes an
accident, did the car causes
the accident or the blind
person?

  I prefer an accessible
internet +accessible services
and accessible smart phones,
above a self-driving car.

  Best, Katty
  ----- Oorspronkelijk
bericht -----
  Van: Mujtaba Merchant
  Aan:
accessible@googlegroups.com
  Verzonden: dinsdag 22 mei
2012 15:29
  Onderwerp: The New Buzz
Google Car

  I guess half or more of the
blind community by now knows
that the Google car has  been
tested and tried in the United
States. I hope the Google
youtube development team is
not behind this project, you
can just imagine if they were,
how many unlabelled buttons
you would find in the car!

  Here is the story for those
who missed the train:

  Web giant Google has already
changed the way we search the
internet, watch video and
navigate.

  But the firm's latest
breakthrough could be its
biggest innovation yet.

  The company promises that
its self-driving car will
enable blind people to drive,
as the vehicle takes over
nearly all the functions of
the car currently controlled
by humans.

  The project has been several
years in the making, and was
officially unveiled in October
2010.

  But recently it has taken a
further step forward, after
putting blind people in the
driving seat and inviting them
to test the technology which
could revolutionise their
lives.

  Google has released a video
showing Steve Mahan, dubbed
'Self-Driving Car User
#0000000001', using the car to
carry out his daily routine.

  Mr Mahan, who is 95 per cent
blind, drives to buy a taco
and pick up dry-cleaning -
activities which may seem
humdrum, but which are shut
off to many blind people who
do not have a companion or
carer to accompany them.

   Home again: The car could
revolutionise the lives of
blind people like Mr Mahan

  Although Google employees
sat with the driver in the
Toyota Prius, they were not
involved with the vehicle's
navigation during the journey
around Morgan Hill,
California.

  Instead the car, which was
patented in December, uses
cameras, radar and lasers to
move safely around
pre-programmed locations.

  Mr Mahan's test drive leaves
him clearly delighted with the
life-changing vehicle as he
jokes: 'Look ma, no hands...
and no feet!'

  At the end of the journey,
he tells his passengers: 'You
guys get out, I've got places
I have to go.'

   Hi-tech: The car was first
announced in October 2010 and
patented last year

  'The concept of it is pretty
awesome,' Eric Bridges, a
spokesman for the American
Council of the Blind, told Fox
News.

  'They�re helping to change
the world in a lot of ways.'

  But a lot more needs to be
worked out before the cars hit
the road without the direct
supervision of Google
engineers.

  It would be a brave
government which issued
driver's licences to the
blind - but the wonders of
technology could still make it
a reality.

  Watch the video and enjoy
the unlabelled buttons on
youtube:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE

  Mujtaba Merchant

  Bangalore, India

  --
  You received this message
because you are subscribed to
the Google Groups "accessible"
group.
  To post to this group, send
email to
accessible@googlegroups.com.
  To unsubscribe from this
group, send email to
accessible+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
  For more options, visit this
group at
http://groups.google.com/group/accessible?hl=en.

  --
  You received this message
because you are subscribed to
the Google Groups "accessible"
group.
  To post to this group, send
email to
accessible@googlegroups.com.
  To unsubscribe from this
group, send email to
accessible+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
  For more options, visit this
group at
http://groups.google.com/group/accessible?hl=en.

--
You received this message
because you are subscribed to
the Google Groups "accessible"
group.
To post to this group, send
email to
accessible@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this
group, send email to
accessible+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this
group at
http://groups.google.com/group/accessible?hl=en.

<http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2012-05/nevada-issues-drivers-lice...>

 - Patricia

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 3:19 AM, katty geltmeyer