makerfaire.com:

Maker Faire Bay Area 2009
The End of Driving

Stage A , Saturday 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Mike and Maaike recently embarked on a project to redefine the automobile in search of a new future for society and industry. Beyond being efficient, affordable and zero-pollution, their ATNMBL concept will drive itself. Informed by emerging robotic technology but optimized for quality of life while in transit, their design vision resembles architecture more than the cars we know today. The ATNMBL concept will show how progressive design and technology can mix to create a positive vision of the future.

We always wanted to design a car, it just never felt right. The current climate made us feel like something had to be done. We decided it was time to experiment and generate a new destination for a new auto industry since the current industry seems mired in its ways. The push for efficient, affordable, zero-pollution cars is important for the future of humanity and planet but is not the only problem to be solved. We think a shift must take place from marketing and styling cars to redefining them. The '90's was selfish in it's gas guzzling size and luxury, the current focus is zippy electric efficiency, and we believe the next destination will be driverless (self-driving) spaces. Our vision is a new focus on quality of time while in traffic and transit. We dismiss the need for extreme MPH and acceleration as irrelevant. Performance will be measured by time savings instead. So without the need for raw speed, we are able to focus on a new influence—for us, this is architecture. Unencumbered by driving, we want to provide a space for living. The list of life-enriching benefits for driverless cars is long: accessibility for young, old, and disabled (no drivers licenses), no searching for parking (it will drop you off and park itself), fewer cars will serve more people, less energy use, people will save hours each day (think autonomous check-ups and grocery pickups). Most importantly, there will be far fewer fatalities and there will always be a designated driver. We are excited to contribute our ideas of the future automobile and optimistic that it can lead to a meaningful new destination point for a new auto industry.

Web site: http://www.mikeandmaaike.com

About the Maker(s)

Mike and Maaike Mike and Maaike is an industrial design studio that takes an experimental approach to design, creating progressive solutions for high and low tech products, furniture, wearables, environments, and now vehicles. Maaike Evers is Dutch; Mike Simonian, Californian. Their distinct backgrounds and unique approach creates strong conceptual foundations and a clear point of view. Equally inspired by the tradition of craft and the potential of industry, Mike and Maaike have designed and developed complex high-tech products as well as artful and personal objects. The studio, which has received recognition and awards from design publications and museums around the world, is based in San Francisco. Mike and Maaike partner with people, organizations and companies who value an informed, experimental approach to design and the unexpected results it brings. They recently collaborated with Google to develop the G1 smart phone.