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Using GPS to Hail Cabs
The Benefactor writes "The guys at The
Register are running a story about using
mobile phones to hail cabs in London. Using GPS technology to locate the nearest available cab and to direct it to where you call from this should make frantic arm waving to get their attention a thing of the past."
It's been decades since the London fog was so bad that you would need GPS to flag down a cab. They can see you on the streets. You're the tourist dressed wearing the Princess Di T-shirt with an overpriced camera around your neck jumping and waving frantically.
A GPS signal might help them find you when you can't tell them where you are, which, for most non-Londoners (and many residents), is quite common, but it ain't about to replace flagging down the cab that you can see driving down the street.
You really should remember that before you push the call button, that you have your Hitchhiker's Guide with you! And keep in mind that you can't find Babelfish just anywhere...
Whew! This water sure is cold!
ahhh yes...good to see that technology is enabling us to take every bit of exercise out of our lives :)
All you need now is a Segway to haul your ass to the cab you didn't have to wave your arm to hail!
A black man still can't get a cab!
No one cares about the right to privacy of cab drivers.
Grand Theft Auto III, anyone? :)
http://dtum.livejournal.com
Every Londener knows that trhe worlds most efficient intelligence network is the london taxi drivers. they all have what is known as "The knowledge". This sinister sounding piece of mental conditioning is actually a requirement before the driver gets a taxi licence.
Now we're giving this sinister shady organisation access to more technology to control our lives. Not only do they aspire to contain all knowledge, but they also want to knwo where each and every one of us is at any time.
Fortunately we have resistance. The London Underground is fighting against these evil beings. The LU provides a service that prevents mobiles from being used in this way.
Just keep me posted when the hookers start using this technology - then you'll see some jumping up and down and arm flailing on my part.
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
No it's the company's management trying to figure out a way to eliminate cabbies. Think about it, if they don't have to loiter waiting for a fare, and instead are directed from point to point by central dispatching, you can theoretically do the same work with fewer cabs.
Not only that, but cabs are drawn to people of credit sufficient to be carrying mobile phones.
Except of course:
- They are already making money hand over fist
- They DON'T pay the cabbies when they aren't collecting fares
- From what I understand, the cabbies pay for fuel
- Mobile phones are so cheap they are practically giving them away with breakfast cereal.
So my theory doesn't make sense from a business standpoint. But what a great conspiracy though..."Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
This will be great if it comes to the states. I'd love to see the drunken rabble at around 2AM in major cities trying to figure out how to operate these things when they can barely figure out how to operate their arms at that time.
I try to make everyone's day a little more surreal.
Zingo uses mobile technology to put passengers directly in contact with black cab drivers in their area that are free for a fare.
I've heard of affirmative action, but this is ridiculous!
The coolest voice ever.
I used to ride by people with their arms out in NYC and give them high fives as I went about my business on my bicycle.
If they start using GPS no more high fiving the man while he waits on his cab.
*sigh*
It was fun while it lasted.
P.S. - YUO FAIL IT!!!!!!!1
In-cab system: 2 fares available
Cabbie: Cab. Show phones.
In-cab system: 1. Motorola Micro-TAC. 2. Sony Ericsson P800.
Cabbie: Cab. Delete 1. Show route to 2.
...
I already have an embedded technology called EYE which allows me to locate nearby taxicabs...