The automobile of the future
From the Washington Times - Jan 6, 1918:
Compare this to the Zoox, the self-driving robotaxi that Amazon is developing. Not an exact match, but similar enough that I'm going to call the 1918 prediction a success.
Though note that the 1918 car still had a driver. So the future managed to outdo what the futurists of 1918 imagined.
Compare this to the Zoox, the self-driving robotaxi that Amazon is developing. Not an exact match, but similar enough that I'm going to call the 1918 prediction a success.
Though note that the 1918 car still had a driver. So the future managed to outdo what the futurists of 1918 imagined.
Comments
Zoox "resembles a human-sized toaster" - per the linked story.
Shouldn't it be "ZooX"? Or do we pronounce it in one syllable?
Shouldn't it be "ZooX"? Or do we pronounce it in one syllable?
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 04/02/23 at 09:44 AM
Also, according to the links, we'll be having sex in these things. So how about some curtains?
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 04/02/23 at 10:03 AM
The 1918 version allows you to stand, which is a big plus when boarding. I assume it's semi-self-driving -- the buttons on the control box are like elevator buttons, taking you to a preselected destination, at which point you use the levers to guide it to a specific address.
I'm still waiting for a Google self-driving car -- I really, really want to press the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button and see where it takes me.
I'm still waiting for a Google self-driving car -- I really, really want to press the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button and see where it takes me.
Posted by Phideaux on 04/02/23 at 12:04 PM
A pretty bold prediction considering cars were still largely motorized buggies in 1918.
Posted by Brian on 04/06/23 at 08:24 AM
I'll buy it when it stops running pedestrians over.
Posted by Richard Bos on 04/08/23 at 09:42 AM
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Category: Predictions | Yesterday’s Tomorrows | 1910s | Cars