Technology Editorial: Transport

Technology has allowed us to reach heights that were previously unreachable. It is hard to fathom why the use of advanced gadgets could be detrimental for our wellbeing. If anything, it should facilitate us in achieving our goals faster, thus making us more productive. One field in which technology has revolutionized basics is transport. No explanation needs to be made in order to prove the aforementioned, just take a few cases as illustrations. For instance, the radar system, upon being implemented on modern planes has reduced on-board accidents, and brought plane crashes to a halt. Although good, this example is already delving into specific details. Simply take into consideration the creation of airplanes, per se. It invented a new mode of transportation which is the fastest known to mankind. In such a case, technology has effectively changed the way we commute. However, this is just one of the reasons why technology is beneficial to human transport.

Recently a student group from MIT has been working on a motion tracking device which will enable pilots to control aircrafts from the ground (Marks). This groundbreaking technology could alter methods of aircraft control in the military which would enable users to simply wear the device and use specific, computer recognized motions, in order to turn and command the aircraft. The creation of unmanned aircrafts which are automated, such as drones are already in use. However, a human controlled system is less error prone. Some of the positive aspects of this advancement is the fact

that no more lives will be lost, and overall resource consumption (like petrol) would reduce to prepare and train young and upcoming pilots.

Another mode of transport that is much more common to majority of the population is travelling by car. Technology has, and is still constantly trying to make things better for us. For instance, an article from CNN (Griggs) talks about how a steering wheel with haptic feedback that enables users to know when to turn or not to. This type of mechanism has been thought out very carefully by researchers at AT&T and Carnegie Mellon University. It could be potentially difficult to find ways around with a voice command GPS, where one also needs to look at the screen before making decisions, rather than keeping their eyes fixed on the road.This problem is the central focus of this advancement. It has been successfully tested on 33 people of varying ages taking part in the research(Griggs). The results were quite positive- a 4% increase of eyes fixated on the road for older drivers, and the overall younger population being 9% more alert while driving with haptic feedback on the steering wheel(Griggs). Such positive technologys sometimes made me wonder what the future of road transport could be.

However, it seems that Natt had the answers in his very interesting article from digitaltrends.com suggesting how the future could be cars running on electromagnetic technology (Garun). We already have electric cars, but these only run for a certain amount of miles before running out of juice-electricity. This juice needs to be replenished, and it takes upwards of 10 hours to get an electric car charged fully for

stable rides of up to 100 miles. Researchers at Stanford University have come up with an ingenious method to supply power to such cars, while they are still on the road, with the use of electromagnetism and a dedicated lane of copper coils for cars of this type. Even though such a complicated procedure will take a lot of time, effort, and a strong financial backbone, it is still feasible and, as a matter of fact, a very positive idea which could potentially leave us with potentially unlimited, and a drastic improvement of low carbon footprints.

So as one can very clearly see, technology can never ruin the quality of human life, but to facilitate in other activities crucial for the growth, and advancement of the human population. If such types of products and ideas are being researched in institutions everyday, then I believe that day is not far when we will be able to finally reap the benefits of automated, and renewable technology.

Works Cited
Last Paul Marks , Command robot planes with a wave of your arms. N.p., 3. Web. 29 Mar 2012. <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21592-command-robot-planes-with-a-wave-ofyour-arms.html>. Griggs, B.. Vibrating steering wheel could help drivers navigate. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 Mar 2012. <http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/28/vibrating-steering-wheel-could-help-driversnavigate/>.

Garun, Natt. "In the future, electromagnetic roads may charge your cars while you drive." digitaltrends.com. Digital trends, 2012. Web. 29 Mar 2012. <http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/in-the-future-electromagnetic-roads-may-charge-your-carswhile-you-drive/>.