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On the one hand, this looks really cool. On the other? I'm very unsure about it.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=iol1029480022328H600
Even assuming the technology pans out beyond the prototype stage, I have two serious concerns with this car, and one less-serious one, so far.
First, the engine compartment in a normal car protects you somewhat in a head-on collision, absorbing some of the damage first. Getting rid of that buffer doesn't strike me as entirely desirable....
Second, the new control is (for those of us without disabilities and not used to hand controls for these things) unfamiliar. Worse than that, it's unfamiliar in ways that could be very dangerous. I wouldn't want to be on the road with someone driving one of these things, if they'd had it for less than several months. Too high a risk that they would forget how to brake the damned thing. (They might forget how to accelerate, too, but that's a lot less likely to put me in danger....)
And the minor concern: seats right on the floor SUCK if you can't sit almost-straight-legged comfortably. The seating looks, in all honestly, MISERABLE to use.
Why change the interface? What's the purpose to getting rid of the pedals? As best I can tell, it's just a gimmick - and one that, if used, will endanger a great many people, not just the ones using it.
On the one hand, it's really cool. On the other hand? I'm terrified they might actually produce it in the form they have their prototype.
And that would suck.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=iol1029480022328H600
Even assuming the technology pans out beyond the prototype stage, I have two serious concerns with this car, and one less-serious one, so far.
First, the engine compartment in a normal car protects you somewhat in a head-on collision, absorbing some of the damage first. Getting rid of that buffer doesn't strike me as entirely desirable....
Second, the new control is (for those of us without disabilities and not used to hand controls for these things) unfamiliar. Worse than that, it's unfamiliar in ways that could be very dangerous. I wouldn't want to be on the road with someone driving one of these things, if they'd had it for less than several months. Too high a risk that they would forget how to brake the damned thing. (They might forget how to accelerate, too, but that's a lot less likely to put me in danger....)
And the minor concern: seats right on the floor SUCK if you can't sit almost-straight-legged comfortably. The seating looks, in all honestly, MISERABLE to use.
Why change the interface? What's the purpose to getting rid of the pedals? As best I can tell, it's just a gimmick - and one that, if used, will endanger a great many people, not just the ones using it.
On the one hand, it's really cool. On the other hand? I'm terrified they might actually produce it in the form they have their prototype.
And that would suck.
no subject
I doubt the controls will be hard to get used to. One of the car companies --- I think it was Buick --- had a concept car 30 or 40 years ago where the steering wheel was replaced with a couple of small circles on the ends of a crossbar. It was surprisingly easy to get used to.
The seats don't look to be quite all the way down on the floor. You wouldn't be totally straigh-legged. But I agree: not as comfortable as I would like.
I agree about the lack of front-end protection. I would suspect that of being the most difficult for customers to accept.
My major concern is the fly-by-wire controls. They worry me in planes and would in cars, too.
By the way, I think you meant "Too high a risk that they would forget how to brake the damned thing." :-)
no subject
Don't like it at ALL.