Well, it's not really unsafe, but things such as the more common installation of GPSs in GA aircraft have led to more collisions. This is because, whereas pilots used to drift, they are now more precise because the GPS can tell you exactly what heading to be on, and how far you've drifted. Of course, this should never lead to an accident, because you should always be on the lookout for traffic, but mistakes do happen. Perhaps I was wrong with how I phrased my original statement, so I would say the following: autopilot in VFR flight cannot be used in the same way it would be in IFR flight, and it requires a substantial amount of input from the pilot.
It depends. Do discovery flights with flight schools until you find one you like. It might not be the first school you go up with. Always assume that it will cost twice as much as they say, because it is in the flight school's best interest to make themselves look inexpensive, but it will most likely take you longer than they say (not to say anything about skill, but a good flight school won't let you go for solo/cross country/flight test/etc. until they are sure you are ready). If you want a little taste of what it's like, contact a local flight school and ask for a discovery flight. They should be able to give you more details regarding what they charge, and other school-specific details.
Both methods (driving and flying) are difficult in different ways. Driving certainly requires practice, but the danger is that people don't concentrate on it as much. If flying became a normal form of concentration, people would be using cellphones and such, and it would be a lot more dangerous than it is.
Keep in mind that I've only done two cross-countries, and using VOR and ADF, I can find precisely where I am. The point is, that for instructional purposes, I'm not allowed to use navaids or GPS. My instructor is confident that I could get un-lost fast enough that he has cleared me to go solo. And, yes, I do need to pay more attention to my charts. It's a learning process, and I'm getting better as I get more hours.
Although it can technically do all that, it can't do all that without human intervention at each step, as far as I know. ILS frequencies still need to be tuned, not to mention that a major job of the pilots is to ensure passenger comfort by avoiding turbulence and weather, which a computer would have a hard time judging. Also, not all airports are equipped with a Category III ILS (Instrument Landing System), meaning that pilot control is required from a decision height. This is all notwithstanding the fact that pilots are hired for the one flight in 20 years when they need to make a quick decision to get the plane safely back to terra firma, not the 99.9% of the time they are sitting watching the autopilot.
Libya already has some of that, and IIRC, their cities are already built somewhat near the sea. You'd also have to move the cities before the Libyans go along with it.
Comparing this with an auto-pilot is a bit stupid, if you don't mind me saying so. Apart from redundancy, which you mentioned, there is also the issue that auto-pilots are directly controlled by human beings, who are, in turn, directed by other humans with large radars. Also, one should notice that most flight plans are a great deal straighter than roads, meaning that precision offered by an autopilot far exceeds what a human could ever hope to do, thus increasing safety. Now, using an autopilot during VFR flight (i.e. light aircraft in good conditions in sight of the ground the whole time) is unsafe, because it is fully the pilot's responsibility for traffic separation, not to mention that more precise tracks from place to place mean that there's a greater likelihood of two aircraft being in the same spot at the same time.
If you had any idea of the complexity of flying anything, you'd take that comment back. I'm in the final stages of getting a private pilot license, and let me tell you, it's a lot harder than it looks (not to mention 1-2 hours of trip planning before any flight away from the airport a meaningful distance). I've just been doing my cross-country flights, and there are about 5 times per flight where I have no clue where I am (GPS notwithstanding, because you have to be able to find your way around in the event of an electrical failure). I know you merely meant this comment to be a witty, quick-way-to-+5-Funny one-liner, but the thought of the average person expecting to get into their flying car and be able to drive it without killing anyone scares me enough that I had to comment anyway.
Re:the worst are always good for you in some ways.
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Coffee A Health Drink?
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· Score: 1
Trust me, you wouldn't. If you've ever seen someone with Alzheimers, you wouldn't think that. My grandmother, who has Alzheimers, sometimes will call our house thinking something horrible has happened because it's dark, and she doesn't realize that it's nighttime. She doesn't remember that there are nurses to take care of her where she lives, despite having lived there for over a year. Getting emphazema (sp?) would be shitty, but I'd prefer it to Alzhemiers. At least there is some quality of life.
It was the price that made a difference for me. For the same amount as a PSP, I could buy a DS with games and any accessories that I wanted. Add to that superior battery life and an innovative method of control.
Also, the movie thing is nothing but a gimmick. I used to play movies on my PDA, but it was more of a novelty than anything. After the first few, I never did it again, because there's just no point in watching a movie on a small screen.
If I'm not mistaken, the DS's wireless functionality is intended mainly for DS-to-DS communication, not for connecting to the internet. Although some may see this as cutting off people from potential competitors, it also means that competitors won't be anonymous, and therefore aren't as likely to be assholes (and if they are, you can deal with it in person).
I just bought a DS the other day. It doesn't seem like much of a gimmick to me. The games are solid, and the touch screen is innovative. It's also $100 cheaper (in Canada at least). So far, the game selection looks better. Other than the GTA game, there's no advantage the PSP has in terms of upcoming games. Also, I think Sony has a lot of balls calling anything a gimmick when part of their strategy involves people buying special copies of movies, and watching them on a small screen.
Speeding really isn't an issue, other than the 250 KIAS (288 mph, 463 km/h) limitation under the "transition altitude" (10,000 feet in the US, lower in other parts of the world), which isn't a huge deal for anything but fast turboprops and jets. The other problems, however, are chilling to say the least.
I've had two dogs, and loved both very much, but the truth is, that it restricts life too much. Unless you get your dog used to going to a kennel early (and find a good kennel, which isn't always possible), you either get a small dog, which you might be able to take on vacation, or you stay at home with your large dog. If I need to ignore the Nintendog for a day, I can. I don't have to spend money on vet bills, dog food, and everything else. I don't have to walk the dog three times a day, and I don't have to do any of the other associated upkeep. No choice or option will work for all people, and both owning a real dog, and playing with a fake one, each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
I'd call it, more accurately, the data CD. Although it has the required files for Windows, it has all but the executables for Linux. If you can complete the entire install without ever using Windows in any way, or something like WINE, then I think it is more than a Windows version CD.
I have no problem with flying cars, but only under the condition that the licensing system currently used isn't changed. This means no flying above cloud, no flying close to the ground, no flying at night, etc. without a special endorsement.
I'm excited that I one day might get to fly planes of this nature. Greater versatility is always a helpful thing, even if airports are still required. I do not, however, support the idea that the public at large should have access to vehicles of this sort. That is to say, there should be no change to current certification processes, with all the inherent restrictions therein. This would be far too dangerous, because flying is a very complex thing.
(Note: by nearly-certified, I mean that I am about 10 flight hours and a flight test away from being a certified private pilot)
Is there any word on having a web-based interface? There are times when I can't install software, but would still like to have IM (for example, in Internet Cafes, or at school). Still, even without, it sounds very cool.
Good sir, if I had mod points, I would give you many of them. I was just thinking about this when I read about "Slashdot's good parents" who are protective of their children, and monitor T-rated games for 11-year-olds and so on and so forth, and I got to thinking "Were my parents too lax? I remember playing T-rated games at 8 or 9". Finally, you put it into some kind of perspective. I realize now that I'm not the anomaly, but society is just far too pussified these days. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!
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Well, it's not really unsafe, but things such as the more common installation of GPSs in GA aircraft have led to more collisions. This is because, whereas pilots used to drift, they are now more precise because the GPS can tell you exactly what heading to be on, and how far you've drifted. Of course, this should never lead to an accident, because you should always be on the lookout for traffic, but mistakes do happen. Perhaps I was wrong with how I phrased my original statement, so I would say the following: autopilot in VFR flight cannot be used in the same way it would be in IFR flight, and it requires a substantial amount of input from the pilot.
It depends. Do discovery flights with flight schools until you find one you like. It might not be the first school you go up with. Always assume that it will cost twice as much as they say, because it is in the flight school's best interest to make themselves look inexpensive, but it will most likely take you longer than they say (not to say anything about skill, but a good flight school won't let you go for solo/cross country/flight test/etc. until they are sure you are ready). If you want a little taste of what it's like, contact a local flight school and ask for a discovery flight. They should be able to give you more details regarding what they charge, and other school-specific details.
Both methods (driving and flying) are difficult in different ways. Driving certainly requires practice, but the danger is that people don't concentrate on it as much. If flying became a normal form of concentration, people would be using cellphones and such, and it would be a lot more dangerous than it is.
Keep in mind that I've only done two cross-countries, and using VOR and ADF, I can find precisely where I am. The point is, that for instructional purposes, I'm not allowed to use navaids or GPS. My instructor is confident that I could get un-lost fast enough that he has cleared me to go solo. And, yes, I do need to pay more attention to my charts. It's a learning process, and I'm getting better as I get more hours.
Although it can technically do all that, it can't do all that without human intervention at each step, as far as I know. ILS frequencies still need to be tuned, not to mention that a major job of the pilots is to ensure passenger comfort by avoiding turbulence and weather, which a computer would have a hard time judging. Also, not all airports are equipped with a Category III ILS (Instrument Landing System), meaning that pilot control is required from a decision height. This is all notwithstanding the fact that pilots are hired for the one flight in 20 years when they need to make a quick decision to get the plane safely back to terra firma, not the 99.9% of the time they are sitting watching the autopilot.
Libya already has some of that, and IIRC, their cities are already built somewhat near the sea. You'd also have to move the cities before the Libyans go along with it.
Comparing this with an auto-pilot is a bit stupid, if you don't mind me saying so. Apart from redundancy, which you mentioned, there is also the issue that auto-pilots are directly controlled by human beings, who are, in turn, directed by other humans with large radars. Also, one should notice that most flight plans are a great deal straighter than roads, meaning that precision offered by an autopilot far exceeds what a human could ever hope to do, thus increasing safety. Now, using an autopilot during VFR flight (i.e. light aircraft in good conditions in sight of the ground the whole time) is unsafe, because it is fully the pilot's responsibility for traffic separation, not to mention that more precise tracks from place to place mean that there's a greater likelihood of two aircraft being in the same spot at the same time.
If you had any idea of the complexity of flying anything, you'd take that comment back. I'm in the final stages of getting a private pilot license, and let me tell you, it's a lot harder than it looks (not to mention 1-2 hours of trip planning before any flight away from the airport a meaningful distance). I've just been doing my cross-country flights, and there are about 5 times per flight where I have no clue where I am (GPS notwithstanding, because you have to be able to find your way around in the event of an electrical failure). I know you merely meant this comment to be a witty, quick-way-to-+5-Funny one-liner, but the thought of the average person expecting to get into their flying car and be able to drive it without killing anyone scares me enough that I had to comment anyway.
Trust me, you wouldn't. If you've ever seen someone with Alzheimers, you wouldn't think that. My grandmother, who has Alzheimers, sometimes will call our house thinking something horrible has happened because it's dark, and she doesn't realize that it's nighttime. She doesn't remember that there are nurses to take care of her where she lives, despite having lived there for over a year. Getting emphazema (sp?) would be shitty, but I'd prefer it to Alzhemiers. At least there is some quality of life.
Also, the movie thing is nothing but a gimmick. I used to play movies on my PDA, but it was more of a novelty than anything. After the first few, I never did it again, because there's just no point in watching a movie on a small screen.
Nintendogs is very cool. I suggest you buy it, if you think you might like the idea. I bought it at the same time as I bought my DS, and it's amazing.
If I'm not mistaken, the DS's wireless functionality is intended mainly for DS-to-DS communication, not for connecting to the internet. Although some may see this as cutting off people from potential competitors, it also means that competitors won't be anonymous, and therefore aren't as likely to be assholes (and if they are, you can deal with it in person).
I just bought a DS the other day. It doesn't seem like much of a gimmick to me. The games are solid, and the touch screen is innovative. It's also $100 cheaper (in Canada at least). So far, the game selection looks better. Other than the GTA game, there's no advantage the PSP has in terms of upcoming games. Also, I think Sony has a lot of balls calling anything a gimmick when part of their strategy involves people buying special copies of movies, and watching them on a small screen.
Speeding really isn't an issue, other than the 250 KIAS (288 mph, 463 km/h) limitation under the "transition altitude" (10,000 feet in the US, lower in other parts of the world), which isn't a huge deal for anything but fast turboprops and jets. The other problems, however, are chilling to say the least.
Also, I am told, the Bond movies started the idea of the vodka martini, because some big-time vodka maker paid the filmmakers money to feature it.
I've had two dogs, and loved both very much, but the truth is, that it restricts life too much. Unless you get your dog used to going to a kennel early (and find a good kennel, which isn't always possible), you either get a small dog, which you might be able to take on vacation, or you stay at home with your large dog. If I need to ignore the Nintendog for a day, I can. I don't have to spend money on vet bills, dog food, and everything else. I don't have to walk the dog three times a day, and I don't have to do any of the other associated upkeep. No choice or option will work for all people, and both owning a real dog, and playing with a fake one, each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
I'd call it, more accurately, the data CD. Although it has the required files for Windows, it has all but the executables for Linux. If you can complete the entire install without ever using Windows in any way, or something like WINE, then I think it is more than a Windows version CD.
I have no problem with flying cars, but only under the condition that the licensing system currently used isn't changed. This means no flying above cloud, no flying close to the ground, no flying at night, etc. without a special endorsement.
(Note: by nearly-certified, I mean that I am about 10 flight hours and a flight test away from being a certified private pilot)
No, you had to get the data from the CD. I installed it on linux without ever touching windows.
Is there any word on having a web-based interface? There are times when I can't install software, but would still like to have IM (for example, in Internet Cafes, or at school). Still, even without, it sounds very cool.
You do know there was a linux version of NWN, right?
Thanks for pointing me in that direction... I'm gonna try playing around with Hula; it sounds very interesting.
What? I don't get it... Dihydrogen Monoxide (H2O) is definitely water, although I have no idea what ID-10T is.
Good sir, if I had mod points, I would give you many of them. I was just thinking about this when I read about "Slashdot's good parents" who are protective of their children, and monitor T-rated games for 11-year-olds and so on and so forth, and I got to thinking "Were my parents too lax? I remember playing T-rated games at 8 or 9". Finally, you put it into some kind of perspective. I realize now that I'm not the anomaly, but society is just far too pussified these days. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!