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Comment Driving for the Vision Impaired and/or Epileptics (Score 1) 437

Hi My daughter is legally blind (achromatopisa if you're noisy). In most of the world she is too blind to drive to see - although there are a few states in America where people with achromatopisa can drive (they can own guns, why not let them drive?). I would love her to be able to use an autonomous car one day. My mother is elderly and has developed epilepsy following the removal of a brain tumor. It would open up her world again if she could drive an autonomous car. Mind you - we've got to get the cars working really, really well but I don't see any real reason why this shouldn't happen.

Comment Re:Grayscale may not be best (Score 4, Informative) 56

My Daughter is legally blind. She has rod monochromatism often called achromatopsia (http://www.achromatopsia.info/) and doesn't see any colour (only grey scale). She seems to think greyscale is quite useful. Now obviously colour would also be useful, but greyscale allows you to 'see' most things. In some states in the USA people with achromatopsia can drive using bioptic glasses (http://www.biopticdrivingusa.com/achromatopsia/). Of course the rest of the world sees this and thinks 'only in America'. Anyway, this is interesting if not entirely new. Other students at my daughters school (for the visually impaired) also learn echo location - this is from my daughters school: http://www.abc.net.au/btn/stor... :-)

Comment Re:Brain for my son (Score 1) 544

Good luck with your son. My daughter is autistic and legally blind. However, my choice was to print a kidney for her Grandmother who is helping care for her (she is soon to go on dialysis). Didn't think of a brain or eyes for my daughter! Probably still wouldn't. Her vision is quite special (www.achromatopsia.info) and as much I'd love a cure for her autism I think a whole new brain would be a step too far. Nice idea though! :-)
Businesses

Working Off the Clock, How Much Is Too Much? 582

The Wall Street Journal has word of yet another suit against an employer who required an "always on" mentality to persist because of easily available communications. Most of us working in some sort of tech related job are working more than 40 hours per week (or at least lead the lifestyle of always working), but how much is too much? What methods have others used in the past to help an employer see the line between work and personal life without resorting to a legal attack? "Greg Rasin, a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP, a New York business law firm, said the recession may spawn wage-and-hour disputes as employers try to do the same amount of work with fewer people. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act says employees must be paid for work performed off the clock, even if the work was voluntary. When the law was passed in 1938, 'work' was easy to define for hourly employees, said Mr. McCoy. As the workplace changed, so did the rules for when workers should be paid."

Comment I'm very interested in getting one! (Score 1) 586

If it comes to Australia and isn't too expensive then I'd get one. I have a Prius for longer trips (our Family needs 2 cars) and this would be perfect for my commute to work. I'd use Public transport if I could, but the drive takes 15 minutes compared to 1 hour plus by bus. I think once these things are availabe you will see more infrastructure appearing. It's good to have a choice! :-)

Comment Re:Proof please. (Score 4, Informative) 441

"Hell, the UK is the only place I ever heard of where those wrongfully imprisoned are then forced to reimburse the government for the cost of their imprisonment." For some years now, if you enter Australia as an asylum-seeker - which is not illegal - you are put in detention camps - sometimes for years. When/if you are deported you are given a bill for your detention. My nephew-in-law received such a bill for around $AUS250,000. Fortunately it looks like the newish Rudd Government (with support from some of the opposition) is going to reverse this. But I think my point stands - people are locked up in Australia for years having committed no crime and are given a bill for their 'accommodation' when they leave. ...oh and Australian's can can detained for ages without trial with no one knowing why or being able to report on it... ...only in America? I wish!

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