Ever wonder about the future?

I recently read Donald A. Norman’s The Design of Future Things. The following are some of my own thoughts on some of Norman’s visions of the future. Please enjoy.

Donald Norman states that many things have sounds that we naturally recognize. However, we only know that a certain sound is made by a bird or a dog because we have learned what they sound like. Likewise, I think we could learn to tell the difference between timers in our homes if we tried. However, if the buzzers all sound alike, then perhaps the manufacturers could allow for user customization of tones. Take cell phones for example. We all know when a cell phone rings in a room even if we have never heard that ring, but we can distinguish our cell phone's ring from all of the others.

Donald Norman suggests assigning sound which are naturally related. The problem with this is that some things do not naturally make sounds. Food for example does not make a special sound when it is done, which is why we give it the arbitrary sound of a buzzer.

I found the idea of a cobot or a collaborative robot rather interesting. The idea is to intuitively control robots through natural movements. For example, when you attempt to lift up an engine, the robot automatically assists you by raising the engine.

I found the idea of cars that swarm around pedestrians to be interesting as well. The idea is that the automated cars equipped with sensors and the ability to communicate with each other would behave like a swarm of fish moving around an object. Theoretically a pedestrian would be able to walk across a street without having worry about traffic; the cars should be able to swarm around any people or objects in the street and pass the information to the cars behind it.

How long before we can have swarming cars?
Even if all of the latest model cars could have this swarming ability there are still many people that drive older cars either for financial reasons or because they just like their current vehicle. I currently drive a 1993 Acura Legend, and I love my car. (According to numerous phone calls I have recently received, my factory warranty is about to expire. Hmm. I wonder if they are trying to trick me. Anyway…) The new cars could simply swarm around the old cars for years to come. However, I think it will be a long time before you are able to cross any street with your eyes closed.