week 1 

8/22/16 - 8/28/16

Dennis Hong: Making a Car for Blind Drivers

Wow! Just...Wow!
It is absolutely amazing how through technology we are able to overcome nature's limitations and give people new freedoms that were once unimaginable!
This project is significant is so many different ways. Besides affecting people on an individual level, this has possibilities to influence major societal changes. The idea of a self operating car is not a new one. Using fully self operating computer cars has the potential to reduce human error in driving. That would be a major change- no drunk driving, no speeding, no accidents! However, as awesome as that would be, I think its equally important and interesting to consider what the implications of such safe driving would be on the infrastructure of the society- such as how many jobs would be affected ? No car accidents means no drivers:taxi/bus/etc, no need for insurance, no need for patrolling agencies...
What I also find interesting about this specific project is the aim to allow the driver to actually drive- in an active sense, where your actions and reactions are reflected in the movements of the car as opposed to self operating vehicle where everyone is essentially a passenger- absolutely incredible how he approached this goal. These non visual interfaces could be implemented in a multitude of different ways besides the driving of a car. I loved that he ended his talk with a new vision of a classroom for the blind where each student can actually see what's written on the board and/or presented by way of these non visual interfaces. How cool!!!