Ever Want Something to Work...
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 12:02
But the kinda crappy website (http://www.solarroadways.com/) isn't doin' ya any favors?
I mean, it seems cool, but it also seems like it isn't past that, "Dude, you know what'd be cool?" stage.
And I know just enough HTML to do that page. I think you need to know more HTML than me to do a page. Or use a template. Or something. I guess I shouldn't rag on a simplistic website, it just isn't bolstering confidence.
That, and a lack of a working model as far as I can tell.
Not quite like the algae based biodiesel. (http://www.ecotality.com/blog/2007/algae-biodiesel-may-soon-be-reality/)
During the daylight wouldn't a lit up road not work so well?
I could make that website in 40 minutes.
Thats uhhh strange... it sounds pretty good on paper but I bet its not going to be too good on pavement..
Compulsive Depression
03-06-2007, 12:29
It sounds a bit... far-fetched.
The idea of building solar panels into roads so they don't clutter up the place is, after a few things've been worked out (like "why don't they crack when trucks drive over them", say), not a bad idea. Sounds like it'd be pretty expensive, but it ain't impossible.
Wiring electricity cables through the roads then is perfectly plausible. So why not other cables? Fair enough.
Having them light up at night? You could do that, but why's it better than good ol' cats'-eyes?
But then saying the roads will detect large animals and pedestrians, or erratic drivers, or track terrorists... that's just getting silly.
Call to power
03-06-2007, 12:29
is there anything that doesn't have a myspace these days?!
Compulsive Depression
03-06-2007, 12:34
Me. I am the last bastion of sanity for humanity.
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 12:46
I could make that website in 40 minutes.
Thats uhhh strange... it sounds pretty good on paper but I bet its not going to be too good on pavement..
I could make that website in 40 minutes, and I know so little about making websites that it shouldn't be called 'making websites' but rather 'putting things on the web'...maybe...
It sounds a bit... far-fetched.
The idea of building solar panels into roads so they don't clutter up the place is, after a few things've been worked out (like "why don't they crack when trucks drive over them", say), not a bad idea. Sounds like it'd be pretty expensive, but it ain't impossible.
Wiring electricity cables through the roads then is perfectly plausible. So why not other cables? Fair enough.
Having them light up at night? You could do that, but why's it better than good ol' cats'-eyes?
But then saying the roads will detect large animals and pedestrians, or erratic drivers, or track terrorists... that's just getting silly.
The tracking terrorists thing was creepy. "The Roads are Watching You" is not actually comforting. Not to mention...how the hell is that supposed to work? I can kinda see the animal warning thing...except by the time it would get the warning out the deer would be in your passenger seat, or it'd be giving out a lot of false readings as animals walk near the roads....
I guess having it light up at night would make it more like Night Driver, so that's cool...
is there anything that doesn't have a myspace these days?!
Me. I am the last bastion of sanity for humanity.
I dislike MySpace the way that crotchety old man on the porch hates all that loud music kids these days listen to.
Me. I am the last bastion of sanity for humanity.
Good! I wouldn't have one but an ex girlfreind made me get it....
But the kinda crappy website (http://www.solarroadways.com/) isn't doin' ya any favors?
I mean, it seems cool, but it also seems like it isn't past that, "Dude, you know what'd be cool?" stage.
And I know just enough HTML to do that page. I think you need to know more HTML than me to do a page. Or use a template. Or something. I guess I shouldn't rag on a simplistic website, it just isn't bolstering confidence.
That, and a lack of a working model as far as I can tell.
Not quite like the algae based biodiesel. (http://www.ecotality.com/blog/2007/algae-biodiesel-may-soon-be-reality/)
During the daylight wouldn't a lit up road not work so well?
It's a neat idea, but it has several logical flaws.
And while the layout is boring and trite, is soft and easy on the eyes, which makes it a lot better than some of the more professional layout jobs I've seen.
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 12:59
It's a neat idea, but it has several logical flaws.
And while the layout is boring and trite, is soft and easy on the eyes, which makes it a lot better than some of the more professional layout jobs I've seen.
If they can do all the things they say that they can (like have a surface that can withstand heavy traffic) the only big flaw I see is having to keep the road really clean in order to not block the actual solar bits.
If they can do all the things they say that they can (like have a surface that can withstand heavy traffic) the only big flaw I see is having to keep the road really clean in order to not block the actual solar bits.
True, true.
But the main logical flaw I was talking about is the feasibility of this. It's not exactly feasible with the amount of time and technological development and resources it would take...by the time we could even get started building these new roads we'd already have hit Peak Oil and passed, and we'd be hard pressed to keep power going...(That and they mentioned intentionally not using certain resources because they could harm the environment, rather than finding out how to use them without harming the environment. I hate it when people do that.)
So, instead, I'd suggest improving our current power infrastructure with what we have available and can manage--more nuclear power plants, zero emission coal plants/verticle farms powered by coal plants using the CO2 to grow crops...ect ect.
Then once that stuff is in place, we'll have the time to develop all of this neat technology like solar roads.
Nomanslanda
03-06-2007, 13:19
Me. I am the last bastion of sanity for humanity.
almost... i don't have a myspace either :D
Compulsive Depression
03-06-2007, 13:20
The tracking terrorists thing was creepy. "The Roads are Watching You" is not actually comforting. Not to mention...how the hell is that supposed to work? I can kinda see the animal warning thing...except by the time it would get the warning out the dear would be in your passenger seat, or it'd be giving out a lot of false readings as animals walk near the roads....
Yeah, it sounded pretty dodgy to me, too. As bad as shoving tracking devices in everybody's car, which our government wants to do ("For pay-as-you-go road tax", my hairy arse).
I presume the road would have pressure sensors in it, so it could tell where there was a car and where there wasn't, or if there was something on the road.
Good! I wouldn't have one but an ex girlfreind made me get it....
One of my friends keeps bugging me to sign up on FaceBook. Why would I want one? Everyone I know knows my mobile number and at least one of my email addresses! Gah.
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 13:23
True, true.
But the main logical flaw I was talking about is the feasibility of this. It's not exactly feasible with the amount of time and technological development and resources it would take...by the time we could even get started building these new roads we'd already have hit Peak Oil and passed, and we'd be hard pressed to keep power going...(That and they mentioned intentionally not using certain resources because they could harm the environment, rather than finding out how to use them without harming the environment. I hate it when people do that.)
So, instead, I'd suggest improving our current power infrastructure with what we have available and can manage--more nuclear power plants, zero emission coal plants/verticle farms powered by coal plants using the CO2 to grow crops...ect ect.
Then once that stuff is in place, we'll have the time to develop all of this neat technology like solar roads.
I guess that would depend on how far along they are and how much this would really cost, which is not a detail I saw on the site. I think it's a tad...let's say optimistic...that they'd replace all roads with this. Even starting with urban centers and working out that would take a while, I'd imagine. And then, even if it's pennies per mile it's still expensive. But, again providing that any of what they're saying can be done, it might be a good tool to add to what we can do. That is, of course, providing that they're not full of it.
One of my friends keeps bugging me to sign up on FaceBook. Why would I want one? Everyone I know knows my mobile number and at least one of my email addresses! Gah.
Yeah, same here... but it was one of those "Do it or I'll cry and make you feel bad" kinda things.
No big deal, only my freinds really know of the account. I think I have 21 people on my buddy list...
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 13:28
Yeah, it sounded pretty dodgy to me, too. As bad as shoving tracking devices in everybody's car, which our government wants to do ("For pay-as-you-go road tax", my hairy arse).
I presume the road would have pressure sensors in it, so it could tell where there was a car and where there wasn't, or if there was something on the road.
That's how I figured the animal sensor whatsits worked, but I don't know how it would tell the difference between one car and another to 'track' someone.
I suspect, though, that these things will be dumped in short order since the energy thing is more than enough to 'sell' the idea without adding expenses to make the road, well, creepy.
Nobel Hobos
03-06-2007, 13:30
It's not actually such a great idea. The only real advantage I see is having the power where it would be used (if there were electric vehicles to use it.)
The costs of photovoltaic power are the panels and the storage (because it's intermittent.) Particularly the panels. Making roadways of them has two bad flaws: (1) some of the time, a car is on top of the panel blocking the light, and (2) driving on the panels will wear them out.
The real-estate required to put the panels out in the sun isn't a significant cost anywhere but in major cities. There, there is unused space already (tops of buildings, wall space between windows, open space which doesn't have cars on it,) and roads, being at ground-level and more likely to be shaded, are not attractive places to collect solar power.
Infinite Revolution
03-06-2007, 13:51
it's one of those ideas that seem amazing when you're stoned but then you think about them in the morning and they sound a bit rediculous.
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 13:57
it's one of those ideas that seem amazing when you're stoned but then you think about them in the morning and they sound a bit rediculous.
Well, I am stoned...
Infinite Revolution
03-06-2007, 14:02
Well, I am stoned...
heh, well maybe you need to be more stoned...
Nobel Hobos
03-06-2007, 14:24
If I ever do anything really wrong, I hope to be judged by a judge who'se stoned, or a whole jury bent in the way of their choice.
"Yeah, I know blowing up factories is wrong, but I can see how it seemed like a good idea at the time" ...
Cannot think of a name
03-06-2007, 15:53
If I ever do anything really wrong, I hope to be judged by a judge who'se stoned, or a whole jury bent in the way of their choice.
"Yeah, I know blowing up factories is wrong, but I can see how it seemed like a good idea at the time" ...
If you do anything too jacked up, though, they might rule against you because what you did 'fucked up their high.'