NYC Wants Ideas For "Taxi Technology 2.0" 302
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.'"
Re:Ozone Generator (Score:4, Informative)
negative, ghost rider
Even very low concentrations of ozone can be harmful to the upper respiratory tract and the lungs. The severity of injury depends on both by the concentration of ozone and the duration of exposure. Severe and permanent lung injury or death could result from even a very short-term exposure to relatively low concentrations.
It's got nothing to do with the engine (Score:3, Informative)
If you read the RFI, it makes clear that they're not talking about the motive power of the taxicab. They're looking to upgrade the "in-taxi experience".
For comparison, they cite the ability to pay with credit cards and the "Passenger Information Monitor (PIM) with payment screen, live map, and various content", which they put in all taxis after the last round.
They're also hoping to improve things for drivers and the fleet, like better ways to get available drivers to where there are passengers to be picked up.
I think they want an idea like this: use your phone (and its built-in GPS) to summon a cab, without the tedious standing-in-the-street phase. Cabs go to where people need rides, rather than guessing.
Re:Electric Cabs (Score:3, Informative)
I don't think electric would be a good idea, although it would be better than gas.
The taxis would need recharging quite often and batteries would soon lose their performance and would need to be replaced. That's a lot of lithium and other heavy metals which can be recycled but they do cost a lot.
A better alternative would be air powered cars, especially as current gas stations could be fitted easily with pressurized air pumps, filling the car's tanks in about 5-10 minutes, at the same time they are filled with regular fuel.
See this page [www.mdi.lu] or go directly to this design [www.mdi.lu] which looks quite OK for a taxi, having both air and petrol, with up to about 1000 miles of range (using both air or regular fuel).
The 13.000 euro price (about $17k) will most likely drop a lot if they get big orders - and who knows, maybe they'd be willing to create a start-up in US, with US employees.
Touch Sceen and Pay System (Score:3, Informative)
Add a Multi-touch Screen in the back with Google Maps or something similar, and support multiple languages. Provide status updates of where you are, what route is being taken, and how long it will take to get to your destination. The system can also provide tourist information and, yes, advertising. There should be no need to speak with the driver. This will ease the transition to driverless taxis, once that technology becomes available.
Introduce a "taxi-card" smartcard payment system.. but also accept cash and credit cards. They can do this at the supermarket, I don't see why they can't do it in the back of a taxi.
Provide an online booking system for taxis and, ya know, actually show up when you say you will.
Re:jkhsad ass7e bcadjh (Score:5, Informative)
Re:They've done this (Score:1, Informative)
Subway (no, not the "eat fresh" variety.)
Re:jkhsad ass7e bcadjh (Score:3, Informative)
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..
TomTom and Vodafone have a service that monitors traffic. The GPS device takes another route based on that information. I don't know how it would work out if everybody would use it.