I used to think the primarily role of cars as transportation devices; getting me from point A to B. The invention of driverless cars changes my perspective. When you no longer focus on driving, secondary roles and new values of cars will start opening up. It will transform the way we deal with time, space, work and lifestyle.
Some quick fact: Driverless car (autonomous vehicle) uses cameras, radar, sensors and a GPS unit to sense its environment, the road and other objects so it can drive without human input.
Here's a list on how driverless cars will impact our lives:
Job loss; These miracle cars will replace the human-driven vehicles, transportation will automate which eventually decrease the employment opportunities for truck, taxi, chauffeurs, and delivery drivers.
The everyone car; People who are physically disabled or old age citizen will be having a freedom to reach their desired destination. No hassles for standing in the long lines for the driving license anymore.
Impact to the world; Driverless cars will leave a huge impact on the world’s environment. As cars are automated, result less chance of accidents caused by human error, leading to less traffic congestion. Self-driving taxis will help to decrease the total number of cars on the road. All these results the cutdown of car's footprint.
New purpose on carpark; Less car result more empty parking space, cities will change as parking space is now available for new needs and other useful purpose. Places that rely on the revenue of car parking space need to rethink a new business model.
Rethink car design; If safety and security of driverless car improve, design will be more sustainable and fuel efficient. They may look different, come in very different shapes and sizes. Parts of the vehicle can even be modular depend on the needs. This new Mix+Match+Swap format opens up new innovation and style.
Speed of recovery and security; People will be more confidence when operating system for a driverless car not only hack proof and also the speed recovery after a hardware or software failure.
On-demand business; A new on-demand business model will be created for this new space. It might base on how consumers want to use automobiles related apps and services. These creates segmentation of customers and offerings for different types of needs.
Traffic police; Traffic police will soon be gone. AI might be the new type of traffic police with a set of algorithm rules attach to the driverless car.
New type of specialty vehicles; Vehicle like that requires a human operator today like forklift, trash truck or Snowplow operators will go into autonomous. In other words more jobless.
Car insurance; Car insurance business need to rethink, a new way will be introduce to assess a car's risk profile.
D-commerce; Once people no longer worry about driving, they'll find ways to entertain themselves. Driverless car might be a space for movies, games and retail. This new dimension and will be disruption to the retail industry. Will there new "D-commerce"?City redesign; Cities today are redesigning themselves to be more environmentally sustainable by adding separate bike lanes, investing in mass transit infrastructure and features that are pedestrian-friendly. Driverless cars will be part of this revolution.
Less focus on mobile phone; Driverless car often requires some apps to operate connecting via mobile, desktop or the internet of things (IoT). Don't be surprise even a fridge is ushering in the next generation of transportation devices, as a result we might have less focus on mobile.
Note: I believe there's more impact on driverless car and the above will not be a final list. I will like to hear more from other expertise within this community .