Very interesting.

[msmrx57]

Just saw this today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep4L18zOEYI

[Airbozo]

Cool stuff!

[CrazyTeaPot]

What's the point of being able to power the entire world if you're going to be in debt for the next thousand years? The cost is way too high in every aspect.

It's really cool and interesting, but very unrealistic. Maybe in another hundred or two hundred years, when there are more realistic options or methods available. All of this tech is still in its infancy, now (and for the immediate future) is a terrible time to invest in what's currently available.

Just keeping them clean would be difficult. They would become black so fast. Then you have to remember, cars aren't invisible, so there's that too. And what about the circuitry and all of that? Repairs would be a pain in the ass and very expensive. What about natural disasters, such as earthquakes? It's as strong as steel, or stronger? Even steel will become beat up after having so many vehicles drive over it for just one year. Then there's debris that will lower efficiency, such as trash, or more importantly, DIRT. Etc etc etc etc.

It's a very interesting terrible idea. But it might have some use in some way for someone with too much wealth on their hands.

Edit: How about instead of roads... rooftops?

[d_stilgar]

Instead of roads, there's steel, which is as strong as steel, and supports trains very well.

And there could still be some cars, but most people take trolleys or light rail in cities.

And take airplanes when travelling extremely long distances, although there are train designs that could travel just as fast.

[CorsePerVita]

It's a cool idea. Seems way to expensive at the moment. But the idea behind it is very cool. It will be interesting if it gains momentum. I love the crosswalk idea. That was pretty neat with the pressure plate idea. Very innovative indeed. My only concern would be the grip on a glass road. At least, the impression I got was that they wanted the surface to be glass. My only concern with that would be the way you stop, corner, etc. Then again, I didn't catch whether or not it'd be in certain areas or all over, etc.

Either way, neat ideas and cool that someone is willing to think out of the box. Good stuff comes from that. Even if the whole idea from the top down doesn't take root, someone may be inspired by the other things they did and go, "HEY! I have an idea..." and apply it to something we either already have, or could use.

[AmEv]

I kinda like the LEDs in the road myself. Would be easier to see the lines at night.

My biggest concern would be, the PCBs after a disaster. Is it stiff, or a ribbon-style, flexible kind? And are there many points of failure?

And we all know the biggest disadvantage of DC: It can't go long distances very well.

[mDust]

They would have to make it survive the rapidly repeating freeze-thaw cycles in stupid states (aka Michigan) that use salt on their snowy roads 4-5 months out of the year rather than sand. To date, no road surface survives more than a few years of this without needing repairs. MI roads are the lab rats of the nation. Solar power of any kind is less than ideal in any northern state anyway.

The smart crosswalks might still be a good idea. I could see flashing surface based traffic indicators saying "Put the phone down and drive.", "It's the pedal on the right, idiot. Go!", or "Please pull over. Someone will be along shortly to cut up your license."

[TheGreatSatan]

I think a snow plow would destroy it

[CorsePerVita]

I think a snow plow would destroy it

valid point

[TLHarrell]

I think a snow plow would destroy it

In the "stupid states", they have markers that are recessed into the road so they don't get popped by the first plow.

[d_stilgar]

I'm still all for the suggestion of high speed rail for interstate and light rail for in the city. Sadly, I think the country will go bankrupt and/or destroy itself long before that ever happens. But I still think it would be the best way to go.

[TheGreatSatan]

We're already bankrupt

[mDust]

We're already bankrupt

And pretty well on our way to destroying ourselves. With the exception of total national debt, beer consumption, and weapons exports, I'm not sure what the US is #1 at anymore. Too many patriots chanting "USA! USA! USA!" instead of being productive I'd wager.

EDIT: Bah! China is drinking more beer now! Get drinking guys, let's take that one back!

[billygoat333]

And pretty well on our way to destroying ourselves. With the exception of total national debt, beer consumption, and weapons exports, I'm not sure what the US is #1 at anymore. Too many patriots chanting "USA! USA! USA!" instead of being productive I'd wager.

EDIT: Bah! China is drinking more beer now! Get drinking guys, let's take that one back!

I'm trying! *chugs beer* :up:

[d_stilgar]

We're already bankrupt

We have a lot of debt, but we're still a ways off from telling all our lenders we have no way to pay it back. But yeah, I'm looking to see how the heck I'm supposed to pay back my family's 100k+ share of that debt.

It's not going to be fun in any case.