YBDOI- Your biweekly dose of internet: November 2018

Fortnight of 11/16-11/30

Self Driving Cars

My thoughts

Self driving cars, though not quite on the roads yet, seem to be the future of transportation. Automobile makers and tech giants, rideshare companies, and all kinds of other businesses are constantly scheming up new ideas and innovations for this futuristic car. Self driving cars have stirred up controversy, and will continue to bring more and more debatable issues to the table as time goes on. In this article, I will address some of these issues and provide my opinion on these topics.

Self driving cars have created a major dilemma affecting safety and human rights. In the event that a self driving car injures a pedestrian or another driver, who should be blamed? The car company or software developer? The driver? I believe that the "driver" of the car should be put at fault in a situation like this. When one gets into a car, they should understand that it is a privilege that can have negative consequences if abused. In 2015, almost 400,000 injuries took place due to distracted driving. When behind the wheel, regardless of whether the car is driving itself or not, the driver should have some level of engagement with the car and its surroundings. This way, in the event that an accident is to take place, or a tough decision needs to be made, the driver can use his or her human senses to prevent the accident or make the decision. With the powerful software found in the car, and human judgement, accidents should decline. So, if an accident were to take place, the probable cause would be a driver not paying attention to the road and relying on the car to do the work. Therefore, depending on the circumstances, a driver should take all or at least some of the blame in the event of an accident.

What about car insurance? With the future of self-driving cars so far away, this question has rarely been considered. If insurance companies mainly base rates upon a driver's record and safety one the road, how will insurance rates be determined with self driving cars? I think that insurance rates should still have some basis upon a driver's reputation, as I believe (mentioned previously) that the driver still has some responsibility when riding in the car. But, the insurance company could instead focus their rates more on the type of car and/or the routes that the car is traveling on. This will give insurance companies an idea of how often the consumer will need to file insurance claims and will allow the insurance companies to select fitting rates.

Finally, what will happen to those who enjoy cars and driving? I personally have a passion for cars, and would enjoy driving. Would there be new laws for humans interacting with the autonomous vehicles? I think that the current regulations are enough to keep order. The speed limit would be in place to prevent real drivers from taking advantage of their full control of the car. Current traffic laws would also prevent anarchy on the streets. But, as self driving cars may create new traffic patterns, more rules would have to come along to control the traffic flow and keep roads safe. Then, there is the possibility of actually driving a car becoming illegal...

Self driving cars have lots of potential. If the society manages work correctly, traffic jams could possibly be eliminated, the roads could be much safer, and automobiles could be much more environmentally friendly. But, new debates will consistently return, and the laws and society will have to quickly and continuously adapt to these changes.

Sources:

https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/self-driving-cars-16-key-questions-surrounding-aut-261146

https://futurism.com/who-responsible-when-self-driving-car-accident

Fortnight of 10/26-11/9

The Latest in Android

The debate between the two large phone operating systems and phones, Apple and Android, has been going on since the explosion of the handheld device, the cell phone. While many enjoy using Apple phones, there are many new Android phones that are popping onto the market that compete with the latest Iphones. This article will review some of the latest technology of Android, looking at design aspects and technology aspects of the phones.

Samsung Galaxy 9

The Samsung phones have constantly been matching and pushing the innovation of the new Iphones. The S9, like the popular Iphone X, has the ability to be unlocked with a face. In addition, the screen of the S9 goes from one edge all the way to the next, maximizing its size. Also, the screen resolution is default set to HD, but can be further improved to Ultra HD. When listening to music or watching a video, one is surrounded by Dolby Atmos speaker technology, providing surround sound to cover the area with high quality audio. The camera is extremely powerful, and can be set up to take shots of food, as well as record in super slow motion. Overall, this phone excels in all categories and is a good device that stays strong in many categories of comparison.

OnePlus 6

The OnePlus, a relatively new phone company, recently released their newest device, the OnePlus 6. This phone is a real whopper. It surpasses the quality of the Iphone, and comes out cheaper. The phone has a 6.3 inch display, with the ability to run videos at 4K. The processor found inside the phone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, one of the most powerful CPU's that can be found inside a phone. Along with the Snapdragon comes the Adreno 630 graphics processing unit, allowing high end and sharp images to be viewed on-screen. Like the Iphone and the Samsung, it supports face unlock when opening the phone. The camera, while not the best, meets the camera quality of the latest Iphone. It supports many recording and photo-taking modes, beauty modes for taking selfies.In the end, the OnePlus outdoes its competitors in performance, but still has room to grow in its camera. The OnePlus 6 is an excellent option for someone interested in the fastest phone on the market.

Google Pixel 3

The Google Pixel 3, the new phone in the series of smartphones that has been recently started by Google, is at the top of the line. The Pixel 3 has an almost edge to edge screen cover, with a five and a half inch display. The phone has one of the strongest cameras of any smartphone. Its camera outdoes the latest Iphone, as well as many of its android competitors. Additionally, the Google Pixel 3 is compatible with new Google Virtual reality systems. The Google Pixel 3 has technology that allows it to learn about the user's habits to effectively charge and use battery. It can also charge wirelessly. The Pixel 3, with Google Drive, has unlimited storage for files, photos and videos. Lastly, the Pixel 3 has a custom built security chip that keeps a users passwords and files safe. Overall, the Google Pixel 3 is one of the best options for a budding photographer in interest of a good smartphone camera. Sadly, the Pixel 3 comes out on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but it still turns out cheaper than some phones created by Apple.

In conclusion, after viewing all the phones presented above, it is plain to see that all have a specialty in a specific area. These phones, in these areas, do one thing and do it exceptionally well. These phones give a user a personalized experience based on his or her needs. They also act as competition in the market of smartphones and force all companies to continue to develop new technology.