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MS Clearflow To Help Drivers Avoid Traffic Jams

Posted by kdawson on from the get-me-outa-this dept.

Pioneer Woman writes "Microsoft announced plans to introduce a Web-based service for driving directions that incorporates complex software models to help users avoid traffic jams. The system is intended to reflect the complex traffic interactions that occur as traffic backs up on freeways and spills over onto city streets and will be freely available as part of the company's Live.com site for 72 cities in the US. Microsoft researchers designed algorithms that modeled traffic behavior by collecting trip data from Microsoft employees who volunteered to carry GPS units in their cars. In the end they were able to build a model for predicting traffic based on four years of data, effectively creating individual 'personalities' for over 800,000 road segments in the Seattle region. In all the system tracks about 60 million road segments in the US."

9 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. Stop Traffic Jams by Mikya · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have a way to help stop traffic jams without fancy algorithms: stop tailgating the person in front of you. That way every time that person slows down slightly you don't have to slam on your brakes, thus requiring people behind you to slam on theirs causing a buildup of cars that aren't going anywhere even if traffic isn't that heavy.

    1. Re:Stop Traffic Jams by BlowHole666 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sure if you would just get off your cell phone, get out of the left hand lane and drive the speed limit. I would not have to tailgate.

      --
      I smoked pot once. But I DID NOT inhale. Will you hire me?
    2. Re:Stop Traffic Jams by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Better still - use public transport.

      Ok, ok, I know this sounds like a troll but seriously, when we have a situation where traffic speeds in major cities is declining endlessly we need to look to long term solutions, not tinkering with the symptoms.

      --
      init 11 - for when you need that edge.
    3. Re:Stop Traffic Jams by interiot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Ding ding.

      Go to Tokyo at rush hour, and observe. The only slowdown that occurs is when one train becomes too full, and people have to wait ~3 minutes for the next one. I never saw a situation where people had to wait for more than one additional train, because the trains can hold a lot of people because they're packed like cattle-cars. On the other hand, Japanese seem to be much better at being fairly quiet and avoiding talking on their cellphones when in such dense quarters, while Americans seem to think that the subway is the best place for talking really loudly on the phone.

    4. Re:Stop Traffic Jams by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Better still - use public transport.

      Ok, ok, I know this sounds like a troll but seriously, when we have a situation where traffic speeds in major cities is declining endlessly we need to look to long term solutions, not tinkering with the symptoms.

      I don't know about your city, but in my city, taking public transport to and from my office would take 2-3x as long on my commute by car, and likely involve at least one transfer.

      The problem with public transport, is if it doesn't actually improve my day and make my commute better, I'm not taking it. It's that simple. Make it faster and more convenient to get to my destination, and I'll consider it. I'm not really willing to add 2 hours to my day.

      It really is that simple (for me at least). I'd love for public transport to be more usable, but, it isn't. Until it is, the vast majority of people will stick with their cars.

      Cheers
      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    5. Re:Stop Traffic Jams by squizzar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'd suggest what is called 'defensive driving'. If someone wants to belt it along at ludicrous speed, then let them do it, it's probably best not to be near them. Getting in their way will only encourage them to try something stupid to get round you.

      If people looked at driving as a cooperative effort - try and let everyone drive at the speed they want to - then everyone ends having a lot smoother journey. If everyone only acts in their own interests it all gets a bit more stressful and scary.

  2. Clear type by Hatta · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Microsoft's Cleartype technology makes text more blurry. So what can we expect from Microsoft's Clearflow?

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    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  3. hmm, does it learn? by beyonddeath · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The first thing I thought, and I have thought the idea of analyzing traffic flow on a wide scale could give the individual an edge, as soon as the masses know the way around traffic, the jam will just move. So unless this algorithm can automatically figure out where traffic is stuck, and route the users in many different ways, this will eventually not work. Not to mention that in many cases (ie try entering downtown toronto from etobicoke), there are only so many ways to go. In my example you have some side streets, bloor, eglington, gardiner, lake shore. But they all suck, and if you suggest the small residential roads, you'll probably sit just as long waiting to turn from road to road. I've tried. But if it helps at all its worth it imho, its not my money!

  4. Re:Swings & Roundabouts by n3tcat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We just need more roads

    Or less cars. Use the bus!