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Using GPS To Prevent Train Crashes In India

dave420 writes "The BBC has an article outlining plans in India to use GPS technology to alert train drivers of obstructions on the tracks, automatically stopping the train if the driver fails to take action. This sounds like a good use of cheaply-available technology to provide a safer train network."

17 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Cow GPS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I could see where this could come in handy! The last thing ANY Indian would want to happen is to hit a cow wandering over the train tracks.

  2. GPS taking our jobs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Indian Programmers Assosication (IPA) is getting worried that some of it's jobs might go overseas to countries that manage GPS satellites.

  3. The day is coming... by krymsin01 · · Score: 3, Funny

    when the human is their to make sure the computer is being alert.

    --
    stuff
    1. Re:The day is coming... by dtfinch · · Score: 1, Funny

      > The day is coming when the human is there to make sure the computer is being alert.

      Just like in Soviet Russia.

    2. Re:The day is coming... by thynk · · Score: 2, Funny

      when the human is their to make sure the computer is being alert

      And the factory of the future will have 2 employees. A man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog and the dog will be there to keep the man from touching the machines.

      Or so they tell me anyway.

      --

      Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
  4. I just LOVE this reporting: by TexVex · · Score: 5, Funny
    When there is an accident, that often translates into large numbers of casualties.
    And in other news, failure to regularly exchange carbon dioxide with oxygen frequently results in death to animals and people!
    --
    Fun with Anagarams! LADS HOST, SHALT DOS. HAS DOLTS. AD SLOTHS, HATS SOLD. ASS HO, LTD.
    1. Re:I just LOVE this reporting: by TexVex · · Score: 2, Funny

      And then there's the photograph caption "Crashes often leave many dead". They are pointing out the obvious.

      --
      Fun with Anagarams! LADS HOST, SHALT DOS. HAS DOLTS. AD SLOTHS, HATS SOLD. ASS HO, LTD.
  5. Re:Other uses... by Dieppe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but for any stolen or hijacked trains couldn't you just follow their tracks? :)

  6. War Railing? by metrazol · · Score: 5, Funny

    So the trains have a GPS doohicky in 'em, alright. And ya say that there doohicky can stop the train if the driver doesn't? Okeydokey.

    And so you're sayin' I could sit next to the tracks and stop trains with the WiFi card in my Zaurus? Neat-o.

    Saves having to follow the schedule!

    --
    "Life's funny sometimes." "And sometimes it isn't." --Cat's Cradle
  7. Re:I hate to seem callous... by narkotix · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do the boulders have GPS too?
    Maybe Gilette can offload some of their old RFID tags that they used to use!

    --
    We played dungeons and dragons for 3 hours.....then i was slain by an elf
  8. Re:Is Hi-Tech the Only Way For India to Survive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    What in Indian culture prevents Indian society from developing into a modern society?

    In Hindi, the word for tommorow is the same as yesterday ;-)

  9. Ever seen a trainwreck before? by imag0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Talking about trains always reminds me of my uncle Earl. Back in the day Earl took his test to become a train conductor since he loved trains so much.

    It got to the oral part of the test and the proctor asked Earl "You have a northbound train running at 38 MPH and a southbound train on the same track running at 42 MPH. The trains are 6 miles from each other. Who do you call first to report this to?

    Earl perked right up "I'll call my nephew imag0, of course!"

    The proctor was puzzled and asked "Why would would call your nephew?"

    "'Cause he's never seen a trainwreck before!"

  10. Re:So... it'll know where other trains are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Ummm... I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but "cow catchers" don't gently nestle the cow in a little cradle like your mommy and daddy may have told you they did.

    They are big steel wedges which smash the cow out of the way of the train, pulverizing it to death.

    Somebody who considers cows sacred just might have a problem with this, and apply the breaks. That was the point the original poster was trying to make.

    Is this also a bad time to tell you about the Easter Bunny?

  11. Re:So... it'll know where other trains are by Golias · · Score: 1, Funny
    Emily Litella: What is it with these crazy Indians saying they can use UPS to prevent train crashes. I'm a big fan of UPS and all, but what could a mail delivery company that drives around in little brown trucks possibly know about train wrecks in India!? I mean come on, people! It just doesn't make any sense!

    Jane Curtain: Uh. Emily, I think the report was talking about GPS. You know, Global Positioning Systems? Those satellites that help you know where you are all the time?

    Emily Litella: Oh... Never mind!

    --

    Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  12. Indian Train Driver? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm an Indian train driver, you insensitive clod!

  13. Re:well that is good by kamapuaa · · Score: 3, Funny

    The above post raises a good point. The problem I've experiences with Indian trains is the tendency of Indians to sing, dance, flirt, and generally arrange large musical dance numbers, all carried out on the rooftops of moving trains. The stations aren't much better, teary-eyed men are constantly watching their true loves head back to the village to get an arranged marriage to some brute.

    --
    Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
  14. Much cheaper solution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hire Muslims who are not adverse to runing over the damm cow on the tracks.