This is great. Everyone assumes that with these changes and advanced technologies, our human nature changes and advances too. -not the case. However, where in the public sector do we see things like "platinum" status? I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but I can't think of it. The roads aren't going to be privatized. However, the maps are. At what point does google maps become a utility that is somehow regulated by the state? I don't recall the post, but at some point kleinbl00 made the point that Google will eventually own the digital toll booths of the world. -powerful stuff.
Bing is at least giving it a crack.
There are pay roads in California, at least, designed to save you commuting time. Important distinction: those roads in no way interfere with the commutes of people not on them. And yes, they're privatized. Google Maps becomes a regulated utility the minute it's used in operating a vehicle on a public road. At that point the entire system needs to be certified by the DOT, just like everything else that goes on a car. Here's the conversation you are looking for: In my opinion, the issues discussed on that page are a hundred times more important than yet another hack journalist misapplying the trolley problem to a subject they don't understand.
Can't think of anything in the public sector, but the private sector of course puts pressure on governments to privatise public services and assets. The platinum service idea itself is already here - when you call your cable provider, the fact that you're talking to someone in another country who is obviously just following prompts that appear on their screen (i.e., they have no specific training in the transaction you have contacted them about) is taking place for 1 of 3 (among several other) reasons: 1) you weren't identifiable when you called in (e.g. You called from your work phone to talk about your home service) 2) you identified by selections that you are calling to perform a revenue neutral or revenue negative transaction (you want to complain, you want to ask a question about your bill etc) 3) in real time it was determined that you are a low value customer to the company So, matching the overall value of customers to a particular customer service experience already exists, to the level where priority treatment in incoming call queues can be given based on your value to that company. Worth a lot of money? You're definitely going to be answered next, regardless of whether others have been waiting longer. So, what I'm talking about above with autonomous cars and traffic management just pushes that idea to one of commercialising a currently latent market - once traffic can be truly centrally controlled down to the individual vehicle, you have a potential market for 'diversification of the individual traffic experience<tm>.'