Driven Round The Bend by a Robot

This is my wife in the year 2037 or so!...

Actually, the lady featured isn't my wife of course, but if it was her 20 years hence she wouldn't be grasping the steering wheel...no need to!..and anyway, there wouldn't be one!

Fast approaching 80 years of age we'd still be independent in where we went, what we did, and who we chose to keep company with. Assuming not too many bits had dropped off either of us by then, the freedom to travel would be keeping our health and wellbeing in fine fettle.

The "Taxi of Mum & Dad" operation when your kids were young is mirrored when your parents get old and frail - and eventually have their driving licence rescinded. The consequences of this moment are often profound, and sadly, I've witnessed the event at first hand.

Things are very different from this day forward.

It seems our global population mix has some challenging dynamics over the coming decades - chief amongst them is the prospect of a disproportionately ageing population. We are already witnessing the inevitable consequences of this within our health and care services, without even mentioning the problem of poor personal pension provision...and it sadly seems that politicians (and the rest of us) have our heads buried in the sand!

But wait - there's something coming along that might just make a difference. An epic difference in truth.

Driverless cars - autonomous cars - robo-taxis - call them what you will!

I'm going to call them the cavalry because they will likely help my wife and I (call it 'Driving Miss Lazy' if you like) maintain our personal independence, keep us fitter and happier for longer, and enable us to contribute to society rather than becoming a bit of bother to it all! What it doesn't mean is we intend to swan around ubering all day long just because we can - but what it does mean is we can still work if we choose, do our own shopping if we choose, and pester our children when we choose. Choice - that's the key word in keeping my pecker up!

Blending natural and artificial intelligence together sounds neat to me - and a few robots around the place to do some chores as well will all be fine and dandy with me.

I truly believe that the consequences of vehicle autonomy are going to be profound, and look likely to arrive just in the nick of time for the monumental challenges that a growing urban and ageing population are now facing - and without doubt, as car ownership is flipped on its head, less will become more.

I used to be the singer in a band when I was young.

I used to sing these words from The Who's 'My Generation' - and really mean them

"I hope I die before I get old"

Not any more!

But, for the final word, I like Mr Asimov's sense of things....

“In a properly automated and educated world, then, machines may prove to be the true humanizing influence. It may be that machines will do the work that makes life possible and that human beings will do all the other things that make life pleasant and worthwhile ”