bill | experience it all.

On Tuesday a bill was put into California law that creates a legal framework and operational safety standards for the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways. California Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill “SB1298” at Google HQ with Google’s Sergey Brin on hand to provide additional information regarding the development of self-driving cars.

Google has been working hard on making autonomous vehicles a reality for over two years now. Brin admits that there is “a long list” of issues to get through before such vehicles will be able to take over the road. His team must take into account every possible “eventuality” a car might experience on the road. He does promise, however, that an autonomous car will never speed through a red light. At the signing, a reporter asked if Google has plans to manufacture their own vehicles at some point. Brin responded by saying such plans are not in the works; Google is busy developing the technology to make cars drive themselves and talks are already underway with popular car manufacturers and they will implement Google’s tech when it’s ready for primetime. And then there’s the ultimate question: when can we expect to actually see and use these smart cars? “You can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this,” teased Brin. With the law in place it’s only a matter of when, not if. The future is coming.

Watch the California Governor and the Google genius talk about the bill and the initiative behind it in the video embedded above. Brin gives his two cents around the 6 minute mark. And yes, he’s sporting his pet Project Glass.

[Via Google+)

On Wednesday officials unveiled a new design for the $100 bill. Mr. Franklin joins pals Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, and Grant in the fight against counterfeiters. The new $100 note includes the following security enhancements: A 3D Security Ribbon that nearly cuts the bill in half at the center contains images of bells and 100s that move and change from one to the other as you tilt the note. The ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it. The Bell in the Inkwell, located on the front of the bill to the right of Franklin, changes color from copper to green when the note is tilted, an effect that makes it seem to appear and disappear within the copper inkwell. On the back there’s a new vignette of Independence Hall featuring the rear, rather than the front, of the building. The Franklin portrait and the vignette have been enlarged and the oval around them has been removed. Also on the back you’ll find a large gold 100; it helps those with visual impairments to distinguish the denomination. The bill retains several enhancements from the last update including the portrait watermark, the security thread, and the color-shifting 100. The new $100 notes will begin circulating on February 10, 2011. Look in the gallery below to learn more about the visual security enhancements; after the break there’s a short animation that highlights the bill. Welcome to the club, Franklin. Washington, where you at?

[Via NewMoney]