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Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
I thought this thread was about the future of vehicle designs?
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Auto industry experts are questioning their future, or at least future growth potential based on changing population patterns. You have this little problem with the automobile depending on roads and destinations. Less so with hovercraft, but hovercraft have no brakes so, I'd rather not see the public attempt the transition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
Tell us how the city crime problems will be solved, before people can be persuaded to move back in.
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Fact is, with the exception of Detroit most cities of appreciable size are growing in population. The demographics indicate they are young adults which grew up in the safe but boring suburbs. Change the people living in the city, and you change the problems.
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Originally Posted by Otto
Also, as the great love affair with the car has to do with personal sense of freedom and innate desire to explore, how will free swimming fishes like me be persuaded to live in the reef?
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Sadly the automobile for many is an appliance, a means to an end, and a rather expensive one they would rather do without if they only could. This need for human expression and social interaction or "experience to be had" is real and for many has become the interconnectivity of the Internet.
I don't need to go down to the local bar to chat with my buddies (risking drunk driving). I just sign into Ecomodder and post my comments in a thread hoping someone signifies my little existence with a meaningful reply.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
OTOH, if we get an energy breakthrough such as low energy nuclear reactions (lenr), that changes everything since it makes energy and transportation costs vastly cheaper, simultaneously enabling off-grid life. Ditto alternate energies like natural gas and methane, of which we have a 3,000 year supply in our territorial waters.
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Wars have been fought over lesser changes which threaten the established power brokers. Oil will die when there is no longer money to be made in it, and not a day before. However us perpetual optimists can always dream of a better system and crave Sci-Fi TV shows/movies in the meantime.
I think, or at least hope for a break through in battery technology coupled with a break though in solar power generation. I have dreamt of starting my own company which as a package sells you an electric car along with the solar panels which go on your home to charge it. This would be a game changer, and halt the whole coal powered car argument.
Our homes use about twice as much energy as our cars, as an architect I see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. I can see spray on soy foam in attics as part of this overall energy plan. Sadly, I'm
not the president of the world with the means to implement such a grand plan, but I do what I can in my little corner of the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
Further, lots of people like me work electronically via the internet, so mostly don't have to be any particular place at any particular time, so why would I want to live in the urban jungle, race the rats, and/or eat the dogs?
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Working out of your house in an urban environment is even better than the isolation of suburbia for many people. If you are determined to be a recluse, there is not much I can offer you in terms of solutions. I will say that many people find an urban environment stimulating with ever present opportunities and greater social interactions, and feel they live more of life that way.
I can tell you have a very negative opinions of cities, may I suggest you travel more and get out more. Perhaps plan a trip to Toronto or something, take the wife on a vacation. I'm told hotel sex is pretty good.
