Getting Behind the Wheel Society and the Adoption of the Automobile

摘要

Social, legal, political and economic contexts determine whether technology and innovationrnis adopted quickly, slowly, or never at all. The importance of each of these contexts isrnillustrated by the widespread adoption of the automobile in the United States. Society’srnembrace and a constellation of social, political, legal, engineering and economic factors werernnecessary in order to turn a toy for the rich into a ubiquitous mode of travel. Enthusiasts forrnautonomous vehicles take note—social acceptance; accommodating political, legal andrnregulatory frameworks; and feasible economics will all be necessary to put computers in therndriver’s seat.