The break-even dates represent their own (optimistic) predictions.
Still, there is substance behind the optimistic predictions.
People who work with patients here say they are wary of optimistic predictions.
Even that depends on optimistic predictions of ticket sales and annual fund-raising.
Even the most optimistic predictions put the deployment of the technology more than eight years away.
Optimistic predictions far outpaced negative ones — a wishful view, perhaps, of technology as panacea.
Bankers want more optimistic predictions because they make the bonds easier to sell to investors.
Even that depends on optimistic predictions of ticket sales, annual fund-raising and cost containment.
Dr. Dean has repeatedly made optimistic predictions about Washington, where he made several appearances on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But despite optimistic predictions, the autonomous transport revolution faces a precarious journey with no smooth pathway or inevitable outcome.
"We could have a couple of hundred events per year if our most optimistic predictions are correct," Dr. Kalogera said.
