[chuckwnelson]

I agree that people think computers are magic and as soon as one fails they get out their pitchforks, but I disagree that automated cars will never happen. It will happen just more slowly.

The changes will be gradual and they have already happened to a degree. Automatic brakes have already been implemented, more expansive GPS is happening. Next I could see an expansion on cruise control.

Its a combo between marketing new features and iterating on current technology.

I think the invention of the automated car will be a gradient, not a sudden occurrence.

[RandallBrown]

There are already cars today with adaptive cruise control and lane correction. On a highway, the car essentially drives itself. I imagine that with 10 or 20 years of incremental improvements we'll see something that's very close to a completely self driving car.