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Google Actually Patenting Its April Fools' Joke
theodp writes "On April Fools' Day, Google joked it was partnering with NASCAR on self-driving cars. Google Racing, the search giant joshed, had its roots in Project Caddy, which demonstrated the viability of self-driving golf carts. And in the future, Google added tongue-in-cheek, your kids will travel unattended in driverless-car car pools. Funny stuff, huh? Only thing is, GeekWire reports the USPTO disclosed Thursday that Google actually has a patent pending for driverless golf carts, as well as cars that can autonomously pick up kids from school and be switched into 'sport mode,' where 'the vehicle may navigate through turns at the maximum speed that is safe.' In addition to cars, trucks and golf carts, Google's patent application calls dibs on autonomous busses, boats, airplanes, helicopters, lawnmowers, recreational vehicles, amusement park vehicles, trams, trains, and trolleys. Google also describes how its invention will enable autonomous police cars to conduct high speed chases and give law enforcement vehicles 'a limited amount of control over nearby vehicles.' So, is the patent application legit, or did Google team up with the USPTO on a belated April Fools' goof?"
"At some point, human error will be removed from the equation" Science and technology is the new Pope in town and our new religion, our saviour... Oh come on, I think we have come full circle now with the strong belief in our beautiful art called science, but isn't anything more than make belief. I am a technician myself, but can be quite tired sometimes with our BELIEF in ourself, and our child called science. I mean, who else but us arrogant humans can come up with the idea that we understand "laws of nature"? We are all arrogant pricks, small speck in the universe that think that we someday will know it all. Do you know what? I think it's ok not to know it all, and I think it's a way of life... at least in this life... ;-)