Uber v Taxis
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594736" data-time="1467883171">
<div>
<p>Let's just say Car insurance won't be a lucrative industry to get into either.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>It'll be fine - the manufacturers will pay it instead.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="594398" data-time="1467769208">
<div>
<p>A few years ago I had a client with a new Bentley and half joking asked him if he'd take me for a fang in it. One day he turned up out of the blue told me to hop in and we went for a drive in it, I was thinking " I don't remember this corner ever being this sharp" looked over at the speedo and we were doing 100 , the countryside was rushing by pretty fast so I had another look and it was in mph not kph . That thing was incredibly smooth, it had two turbos and there was no sign of when they kicked in it just got faster and faster.<br><br>
I've never had a nice car, mine get wrecked towing stuff ,carrying tools and other gear and kayaks dripping salt water on the roof.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Hmm, similar experience with a mate of mine that had a W12 coupe and he took me for a spin. Everything was totally free of any drama, I knew we were going fast but felt totally relaxed. Going down a winding dual carriageway and hitting the worst of the bends that I've previously done at 90 in a 911, we zipped through them with nary a tremor. He looked over at me and said "130. Not bad eh?" I stole a quick glance at the speedo and he was not joking.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bloody awesome machine but still something of an old man's carriage.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594736" data-time="1467883171">
<div>
<p>Let's just say Car insurance won't be a lucrative industry to get into either.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>oh there'll still be a need, insurers are actually quite keen on it.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="594750" data-time="1467886976">
<div>
<p>oh there'll still be a need, insurers are actually quite keen on it.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>It'll be swings & rounbdabouts, literally every car will be covered so that'll mean more premiums & a much more steady flow of premiums. Inmsurance companies more than anything want steady premiums & easily valued risk, driverless cars give that through the roof. But equally lower premiums as crashes will be far fewer. add to that any crash will have a huge amount of data behind it making blame (ie which insurer gets hit) will be indredibly easy. So insurance companies will be fine, people who have the job of selling insurance, taking a commission on it, and most of all assessing it are fucked. No more "guy drives into tree, only source of how is guy, who has concussion".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, each quarter Tesla issue a software update, the data coming off all their cars is fed into the insurance algorithm, that gives an insurance premium automatically paid by anyone using that software. Tesla car crashes into Google car. 2 sets of data fed into algorithm & the fault is apportioned.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Guy who wrote algorithm 1 & 2 makes money. Insurance companies make money. 50,000 insurance assessors & people on commission.. less so.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="594752" data-time="1467888187">
<div>
<p>It'll be swings & rounbdabouts, literally every car will be covered so that'll mean more premiums & a much more steady flow of premiums. Inmsurance companies more than anything want steady premiums & easily valued risk, driverless cars give that through the roof. But equally lower premiums as crashes will be far fewer. add to that any crash will have a huge amount of data behind it making blame (ie which insurer gets hit) will be indredibly easy. So insurance companies will be fine, people who have the job of selling insurance, taking a commission on it, and most of all assessing it are fucked. No more "guy drives into tree, only source of how is guy, who has concussion".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, each quarter Tesla issue a software update, the data coming off all their cars is fed into the insurance algorithm, that gives an insurance premium automatically paid by anyone using that software. Tesla car crashes into Google car. 2 sets of data fed into algorithm & the fault is apportioned.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Guy who wrote algorithm 1 & 2 makes money. Insurance companies make money. 50,000 insurance assessors & people on commission.. less so.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>
Universal basic income FTW!</p> -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11697021'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11697021</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>How Uber plans to put its own drivers out of business</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Uber spent years amassing an army of 1 million drivers around the world. Now its CEO says it wants to "wean" customers off of those very drivers.</p>
<p>Beginning this month, the ride-sharing company will begin deploying self-driving cars -- equipped with cameras, lasers and GPS systems -- to pick up passengers in downtown Pittsburgh, <i>Bloomberg Businessweek</i> reports. The custom Volvo SUVs will offer free introductory rides and, at least for now, be supervised by engineers in the driver's seat.</p>
<p>The idea, the company says, is to eventually replace human drivers with automated systems. The fleet of 100 new vehicles, will come with tablets in the back seats to tell customers what's happening and to discourage them from interacting with their drivers.</p>
<p>"The goal is to wean us off of having drivers in the car, so we don't want the public talking to our safety drivers," Travis Krikorian, Uber's co-founder and chief executive, told <i>Businessweek</i>.</p>
<div> </div>
<p>That could be a problem for the company's drivers, many of whom use the ride-sharing service to make ends meet.</p>
<p>Since its founding in San Francisco seven years ago, Uber has given rise to a new opportunity for independent contractors.</p>
<p>But in recent months, the ride-sharing company has slashed fares and begun taking a larger portion of revenue from its drivers, amounting to less take-home pay for those behind the wheel.</p>
<p>Uber last year said its drivers make about $19 an hour -- but by the time taxes, insurance costs, gas and car maintenance are factored in, that figure is whittled down to about $10.50 per hour, according to a Washington Post analysis.</p>
<p><i>But could Uber's driverless fleet also be bad for car companies?</i></p>
<p>The company's CEO says yes, according to Businessweek:</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote><span>We see it as an opportunity.</span></blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>In the long run, Kalanick says, prices will fall so low that the per-mile cost of travel, even for long trips in rural areas, will be cheaper in a driverless Uber than in a private car. "That could be seen as a threat," says Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson. "We see it as an opportunity."</p>
<p class="">- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/'>Washington Post</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="607864" data-time="1471812062">
<div>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11697021'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11697021</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>How Uber plans to put its own drivers out of business</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Uber spent years amassing an army of 1 million drivers around the world. Now its CEO says it wants to "wean" customers off of those very drivers.</p>
<p>Beginning this month, the ride-sharing company will begin deploying self-driving cars -- equipped with cameras, lasers and GPS systems -- to pick up passengers in downtown Pittsburgh, <i>Bloomberg Businessweek</i> reports. The custom Volvo SUVs will offer free introductory rides and, at least for now, be supervised by engineers in the driver's seat.</p>
<p>The idea, the company says, is to eventually replace human drivers with automated systems. The fleet of 100 new vehicles, will come with tablets in the back seats to tell customers what's happening and to discourage them from interacting with their drivers.</p>
<p>"The goal is to wean us off of having drivers in the car, so we don't want the public talking to our safety drivers," Travis Krikorian, Uber's co-founder and chief executive, told <i>Businessweek</i>.</p>
<div> </div>
<p>That could be a problem for the company's drivers, many of whom use the ride-sharing service to make ends meet.</p>
<p>Since its founding in San Francisco seven years ago, Uber has given rise to a new opportunity for independent contractors.</p>
<p>But in recent months, the ride-sharing company has slashed fares and begun taking a larger portion of revenue from its drivers, amounting to less take-home pay for those behind the wheel.</p>
<p>Uber last year said its drivers make about $19 an hour -- but by the time taxes, insurance costs, gas and car maintenance are factored in, that figure is whittled down to about $10.50 per hour, according to a Washington Post analysis.</p>
<p><i>But could Uber's driverless fleet also be bad for car companies?</i></p>
<p>The company's CEO says yes, according to Businessweek:</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>We see it as an opportunity.</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>In the long run, Kalanick says, prices will fall so low that the per-mile cost of travel, even for long trips in rural areas, will be cheaper in a driverless Uber than in a private car. "That could be seen as a threat," says Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson. "We see it as an opportunity."</p>
<p>- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/'>Washington Post</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>
The sooner the better. I wonder if in a few generations time the skill of driving a car will be like riding a horse today, mostly a leisure/enthusiast thing. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="608155" data-time="1471870102">
<div>
<p>The sooner the better. I wonder if in a few generations time the skill of driving a car will be like riding a horse today, mostly a leisure/enthusiast thing. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>A reply I posted yetserday disappeared, so here it is again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Riding a horse is a great example. Horse riding is now more expensive and more difficult than car driving. Makes you wonder also if the speed limits could be changed when cars become self driving - after all, if you have perfect reactions, why would you limit speeds to 100kph? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Owning a horse makes no financial sense in any urban area. In 50 years, odds are that we'll look at garages the way that we look at stables now - as a quaint relic of old school.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="608155" data-time="1471870102">
<div>
<p>The sooner the better. I wonder if in a few generations time the skill of driving a car will be like riding a horse today, mostly a leisure/enthusiast thing. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Yeah, I wonder if when my boy is an adult he will say "holy shit I can't believe YOU used to drive me around! Thank fuck you didn't crash and kill me!".</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="608179" data-time="1471894617">
<div>
<p>Makes you wonder also if the speed limits could be changed when cars become self driving - after all, if you have perfect reactions, why would you limit speeds to 100kph? </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Once every car knows what every other car is doing, it'll be a heck of a lot safer. Of course, hackers will want to have their say, but that's always the risk.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Owning a self-driving car will be something for the rural and suburban fringe dweller on acreage - just like horses are now.</p> -
<p>i have plans for my garage when it is no longer necessary. </p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608241" data-time="1471909107">
<div>
<p>i have plans for my garage when it is no longer necessary. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/sP6CyS6.jpg" alt="sP6CyS6.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I finally joined the Uber revolution and all I'll say is taxis can fuck right off and die.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="608250" data-time="1471910035">
<div>
<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/sP6CyS6.jpg" alt="sP6CyS6.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I finally joined the Uber revolution and all I'll say is taxis can fuck right off and die.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>ah, duurrr, i already have that in the bunker. The garage will be a meditation calming space. I am all about balance. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608257" data-time="1471910712">
<div>
<p>ah, duurrr, i already have that in the bunker. The garage will be a <strong>meditation calming space.</strong> I am all about balance. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>My Star Trek universal translator converted that to Porn Room.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="608259" data-time="1471910784">
<div>
<p>My Star Trek universal translator converted that to Porn Room.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9400000/Big-Grin-james-franco-9496022-272-204.gif" alt="Big-Grin-james-franco-9496022-272-204.gi"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608257" data-time="1471910712"><p>
ah, duurrr, i already have that in the bunker. The garage will be a meditation calming space. I am all about balance.</p></blockquote>
<br>
Translation - faporium . -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="608155" data-time="1471870102">
<div>
<p>The sooner the better. I wonder if in a few generations time the skill of driving a car will be like riding a horse today, mostly a leisure/enthusiast thing. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Nup, can't see it. Why do planes have pilots?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="608295" data-time="1471915894">
<div>
<p>Marketing.....</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>A mate of mine whose a pilot reckons it's because of the just in case factor. He said most planes more or less fly themselves, but now things still happen all the time which require a pilot.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So with cars, where there are much more, working in much more confined spaces, I'm just not convinced. Planes are designed to miss each other by what - a mile, so in a world where GPS is accurate to within a metre, thats fine. But in cars, it's completely different.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Maybe I'm out of touch, I dunno. But self driving cars, seem like a bit of a pipe dream. I can see how this could happen for temporary times on autoroutes / motorways etc. But country roads, small towns, parking lots etc etc. I'm not even close to sold.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="608298" data-time="1471917018">
<div>
<p>Maybe I'm out of touch, I dunno. But self driving cars, seem like a bit of a pipe dream. I can see how this could happen for temporary times on autoroutes / motorways etc. But country roads, small towns, parking lots etc etc. I'm not even close to sold.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Have you read much on this? This seems like something where the tech has caught up and it's a matter of time for most of the world to get there. They are running lidar type sensors, and there are big investments going in from Uber, Google, Apple as well as most car companies. It seems like self driving cars are probably viable in 5-10 years. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm not one to get caught up in big hype, but this seems not far away. There are real life tests going on with millions of miles covered.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This probably won't work in areas with snow or maybe heavy heavy rain, but seems like a good solution for damn near every where else.</p>
