The feeling of Joy you experience when what you had just dreamt about, is actually happening, is amazing!! Isn't it..Well, I just re experienced something like that today..While reading through my regular emails on University of Michigan's Alumni Association, which gives me info on the latest technology and happenings at UOM, I came across an article, which was highlighted. It was about smart car technology and UOM's involvement in the research.
For a long time now, I had these two ideas for automobiles. Remembering these ideas, takes me back to my college career fair days, where companies like GM and Ford, would ask you about some innovative ideas you have thought about and these two were mine...My first idea, dates back to my 7th-8th grade school days. Two of my dad's brother are in USA, so as a kid, my grandmother used to come to US often and tell us stories back home about the life and technology in US. One of the stories, I remember as a kid, she told us was about Automatic car, which both my uncles and aunts had. It was fascinating, that as a kid, just with the word automatic, I had assumed an automatic car is like a robot, which drives itself automatically with a touch of a button..Ofcourse, as we grew up, we talked less about the specifics and types of these cars in US, so deep down, it was always there, that, that is how an automatic car works..Now, you can definitely imagine my disappointment when I first landed here in 2004 and saw an automatic car..But, in about 2008-2009, while my sister priyanka had attended some networking session, she had met someone, who talked about the same technology, where car would automatically drive themselves..When she came home and told me about it, and told me about Google actually working on that technology, I was jumping with joy, thinking finally!! The vision, even though it was just a child's imagination, was actually coming true..Ofcourse, I was disappointed and wished, I was somehow involved or part of this technology...
During one of my regular commutes, there was huge traffic jam and though there were news on the radio and all, no one actually seemed to have any idea on what was going on..Also if you have been through accidents like that you know, sometimes, the lanes are slow, just because everyone is curious what might have happened there and just driving slow, resulting in more back ups. At that stage, I wondered, what if there was technolgy, which let me communicate from one car to another to pass the message of what is going on, on the road, if there a cop, oh be careful, or if there is an accident, slow down, accident ahead etc..While thinking about this, one day, I came across some signs, which you can install on your car trunk to put the smiley face, and I was like, yes, we are definitely getting closer to that..And now, when I read this article, my joy knew no bounds....again, I do wish, I was involved in this...One thing, I think about is, even though I am not a car fanatic (yes master's in mechanical engineering, but not highly passionate about cars), I should definitely keep a track of my visions and dreams...Who knows, some day, I might be the first to encash the vision/opportunity..Regardless of that, I am so happy, that the technology is atleast moving forward..I do wish HVAC technology, the field where I work in, would advance at this pace..Incase you are interested about this research, you can read it at the following address:
U-M Transportation Research Institute leads way in 'smart car' technology
Happy Dreaming!!
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