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NYC Wants Ideas For "Taxi Technology 2.0"
An anonymous reader writes "New York City is soliciting ideas from the public about possible technology improvements for its 13,000+ fleet of taxis. TLC (the city agency in charge of cabs) is 'seek[ing] input and information on ways to enhance the technology systems in each taxicab for the benefit of passengers, drivers and owners alike.'"
Big city Taxis are perfect for compressed air technology:
http://www.google.com/search?q=compressed+air+cars
No sig today...
How about a method for electronically hailing a cab?
Part of the inefficiency taxis is that they drive around looking for fares, while interested riders may be waiting nearby but out of visual range.
Some method of being able to hail a cab from a cel phone with built in GPS would improve the ability of cabs and customers to find each other. The technology should be fairly easy to set up, simply requiring smartphones on both the passenger and driver end and at least a couple of servers to manage the information. Costs could be paid for with advertisements or very small fees from participants.
The biggest barrier to such a system is critical mass, which would be easy to obtain if the city simply picked an official provider of such a system.
Stop taking cash.
Pay them more and remove tipping
In Cab Wi-Fi
Clean cabs that don't stink
Online in Cab ratings of the Cab, company and driver.
Free umbrellas. Big ugly orange things that get picked up and returned to the cab.
No Radio
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Even if they could get 20% participation from the NY cabbies the gas cabs would still have an advantage because they would not have to return to base to refuel which means more time on the prowl for additional fares while the competition is driving back and forth to base several times per day to get the battery pack changed. The gas powered cab can stop at the nearest gas station, fill up the tank, and be right back out there. The cab driver is a practical creature and will only switch to "green alternatives" if the law forces everyone, including the competition to do it, or it offers a competitive advantage over gas.
I heard a FOAF story about a taxi driver who installed a GPS in his taxi. He'd always say to new fares: "You can have the GPS route, or you can have the route I think is best. Which do you want?"
Many, perhaps most, people would pick the GPS ... and promptly get stuck in traffic, because it doesn't know when to avoid main roads, all the shortcuts available, etc. It paid itself off in a few weeks..
Repton.
They say that only an experienced wizard can do the tengu shuffle.
We had a huge blackout in 2005, but no riots. Instead, the whole city turned into a huge block party. People sharing barbecues on their porches with neighbors, rather than watch their refrigerators full of food go to waste. Stores gave away food towards the end of the night. The parks had bonfires and acoustic music.
NYC has changed a lot since 1977 (though that blackout didn't really riot much, either). Several generations growing up with a social welfare system has seen us become a lot less antisocial. We'll still kick your out of towner ass for badmouthing us, but especially since 9/11/2001 we look to help each other through tough times.
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make install -not war