09-04-2016, 05:57 AM
Several Punaweb members have recently suggested we start a thread about new and existing Hawaii businesses, others have pointed out how much space based technologies affect us right here on the Big Island. So I thought it might be interesting to combine these two ideas in a single topic.
For instance, the other day I was driving a rental car with a GPS based navigation system built into the dashboard. Now, it's generally not too difficult to find your way around Puna or Hilo town, but I can see it might come in handy if you're driving somewhere new or unusual. You simply give the unit an address, and it will speak and display directions which notify you of upcoming turns all the way to your destination.
This is thanks to a series ofgeosynchronous low medium earth orbit satellites (see Eric1600's & TomK's excellent description and explanation below), connected to a ground based computer in your car, here on Hawaii Island. Probably helpful for any number of delivery based businesses, for instance, getting your pizza delivered as quickly as possible without the driver searching on mile long rural subdivision roads for an address. Any others?
It also got me to thinking about the future of these technologies and how they could affect us here in the coming years. For instance, there are many automotive companies that already have self parking capabilities, even automatic braking when the car in front of you is a certain distance away. Tesla has self driving cars (almost).
Imagine a trip from Pahoa to Hilo 15 years from now. Autonomous cars doing most of the driving for you, in conjunction with GPS navigation systems and ground based sensors embedded in the roads. We can take down many of the signs that currently blemish our tropical landscape as the computer will handle speed limits, intersections, and road name designations, even stopping and starting.
I imagine an efficient, safe journey through forests, bamboo, and ornamental fronds, leaves, and colorful petals, somewhat akin to a national park or botanical garden. I also recognize, even though this is (to me) clearly the future, it's not a good idea to advocate tearing down all of the signs now. What would that accomplish other than line the pockets of insurance companies? No, we're in a period of transition, and often in periods of transition we use the best of the old technology as we phase in the new.
It's a brave new world out there, and although south Puna may continue to enjoy it's reputation as an anachronistic cluster on the east side of the Big Island (and I'm glad it is), what part of our space based future have you already integrated into your small business, and personal life? What do you intend to use soon?
I think we're extremely fortunate to live in Puna and (sometimes) have a choice of the best of both worlds. Past and future. Old and new. Mauka and makai.
(edit in bold)
For instance, the other day I was driving a rental car with a GPS based navigation system built into the dashboard. Now, it's generally not too difficult to find your way around Puna or Hilo town, but I can see it might come in handy if you're driving somewhere new or unusual. You simply give the unit an address, and it will speak and display directions which notify you of upcoming turns all the way to your destination.
This is thanks to a series of
It also got me to thinking about the future of these technologies and how they could affect us here in the coming years. For instance, there are many automotive companies that already have self parking capabilities, even automatic braking when the car in front of you is a certain distance away. Tesla has self driving cars (almost).
Imagine a trip from Pahoa to Hilo 15 years from now. Autonomous cars doing most of the driving for you, in conjunction with GPS navigation systems and ground based sensors embedded in the roads. We can take down many of the signs that currently blemish our tropical landscape as the computer will handle speed limits, intersections, and road name designations, even stopping and starting.
I imagine an efficient, safe journey through forests, bamboo, and ornamental fronds, leaves, and colorful petals, somewhat akin to a national park or botanical garden. I also recognize, even though this is (to me) clearly the future, it's not a good idea to advocate tearing down all of the signs now. What would that accomplish other than line the pockets of insurance companies? No, we're in a period of transition, and often in periods of transition we use the best of the old technology as we phase in the new.
It's a brave new world out there, and although south Puna may continue to enjoy it's reputation as an anachronistic cluster on the east side of the Big Island (and I'm glad it is), what part of our space based future have you already integrated into your small business, and personal life? What do you intend to use soon?
I think we're extremely fortunate to live in Puna and (sometimes) have a choice of the best of both worlds. Past and future. Old and new. Mauka and makai.
(edit in bold)
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves