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Will Robot Cars Need Windows?

Posted by timothy on from the they-can-dream-without-them dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Atlantic has an article asking whether autonomous cars need windows. If there's no driver, will the passengers want to look outside? In the summer, will anyone want to endure the relentless heat from the sun? The robot cars offer us a great opportunity to rethink the platform which is largely devoted to supporting the driver. But if a computer is in charge and it sees with dozens of cameras ringing the car, what else can we change? What else don't we need? What can improve?

11 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. carsickness by blindbat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People who get car sick need windows. Nuff said.

    1. Re:carsickness by Ambiguous+Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but since there will be no drivers, we could just drug passengers into unconsciousness for the duration of their trip! RETHINK THE PLATFORM, MAN!

      --
      Their may be a grammatical error, misspeling, or evn a typo in this post.
    2. Re:carsickness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Also claustrophobia.

      There is a reason why trains, even underground trains, have windows.

    3. Re:carsickness by JourneymanMereel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      People who get car sick need windows. Nuff said.

      Pretty much. Did passenger cars in trains need windows? Do airplanes need windows? Do houses need windows?

      Obviously the windows in today's cars need to provide a LOT of visibility so the driver can see as much as possible. But taking away a driver's need to see doesn't take a way the need for windows.

      I honestly can't believe this is even a question.

      --
      Life has many choices. Eternity has two. What's yours?
  2. Linux would be better by gnu-sucks · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would say that linux would be a superior choice to windows for a car. Less re-starting.

    1. Re:Linux would be better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      If we're resurrecting dead jokes, it should be noted that the Linux cars never had any good drivers in the first place.

  3. Drive-throughs by mrchaotica · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are plenty of reasons (beyond merely operating the vehicle) to need windows:

    • Carsickness, as you mentioned
    • Being able to use drive-through windows
    • Ventilation
    • Scenery (which is better with an autonomous car, because the person who would otherwise be driving can enjoy it too!)
    • Carrying stuff that sticks out a little
    • Being able to yell at the idiot driver of the (non-autonomous) car in the lane next to you
    • And finally, driving, when going off-road or other situations in which the autopilot fails or can't be used (I assume any autonomous car is going to end up having manual backup controls, at least for the foreseeable future)
    --

    "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    1. Re:Drive-throughs by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Funny

      Not to mention letting your dog stick its head out of the window. #1 most important function of car windows according to dogs.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Drive-throughs by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In aircraft, windows for passengers add a lot of expense and structural weakness. Yet aircraft still have them. Passengers don't want to feel boxed in, and just want to enjoy the view. For SDCs, windows will be necessary for quite a while in case the driver needs/wants to take over.

    3. Re:Drive-throughs by bearinboots · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, Grey Poupon.

  4. Re:Back seats have windows in the door by neilo_1701D · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Technically, the driver of a car never uses the windows in the door of the back seats.

    I really don't want to be on the same road as you when you change lanes on the non-driving side...