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Early Addition
Come October, your experience in the backseat of a taxi could be a little more high-tech. The Taxi & Limousine Commission unanimously approved touch-screen "passenger information monitors" for all 13,000 yellow cabs on the streets. In addition to showing information, entertainment, and advertising, these monitors will show a map of the taxi's current location using GPS. The new systems would also accept credit card payments. Some cab drivers expressed their opposition to the systems, citing the large costs and privacy issues of the GPS systems. The systems (medalion owners have 4 to choose from) are supposed to have a maximum three-year cost of $7,400.
A handful of taxi drivers even hinted at the possibility of a strike, with one telling amNY, "If there is a strike I will join it." The monitors, which have been undergoing a 200 unit test, was a condition of the 2004 fare hike (not to be confused with the 2006 fare hike), when fares went up 26%, something Mayor Bloomberg noted when asked about a strike. Some industry experts claim that the monitors are good for drivers because of the added possibility of advertising revenue. The TLC says the systems will help drivers because transactions can be quick and cashless and the GPS can provide traffic information. For passengers, the TLC says there are mute buttons on the systems, it will aid in the return of lost property, and riders can look up entertainment options at their destination.
The TLC website has more details on all the features that were approved in their plans as well as a video (2 mb .wmv file) showing how one of the proposed systems works. Taxis are required to have the systems installed starting October 1st as they come up for inspection.
Photo of concept taxi from the Taxi 07 exhibit at the NY International Auto Show by Tien Mao; Photo of one model of the back seat display via the AP
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I was in a cab with what I think was a test version of those screens.
I'm a huge geek, so I first thought this was f*ing cool....but then the nausea set in. Maybe I'm a little more motion-sickness prone than others, but within 30 seconds I was rolling down the window begging for air.
I thought they would have an off function too? The screens along with really bad driving will only make more people throw up. All that extra revenue will go to cleaning supplies and air fresheners to cover the smell of vomit.
When do we get the robot drivers, a la Total Recall? Now that's innovation!
"How did I get een dis taxi?"
"The door opened, you got in."
I had the nausea issue too when I was in one of these test cabs. There better be a way for the customer to turn these off. I could not figure out a way to turn it off during my experience.
the only useful functionality these things bring is the ability to pay with a credit card. the rest is crappy bloatware that costs too much to implement and of course, this cost will be passed along to us.
oh, and dont worry about the ability to turn the screens off, within hours of these being rolled out, they will be covered in graff, band, and obscure "guerilla marketing" website stickers. at least i hope so...
I was in a few of these cabs as well and the first thing i tried to find was the mute button. I think by default they should be muted.
Above and beyond that, I think 70% of the ones I saw were either scratched to high hell, kicked in, and had screens that were totally cracked.
I like the credit card payment function, but I agree, the rest is tourist bloatware.
Except don't credit card companies take a percentage of all transactions using their system? Thus, while more people might be able to take taxis, what I believe is more likely to happen is that more people will forgo the trip to the ATM before getting into the cab and cabbies will see their profits eaten into.
i also got very nauseas after 2 minutes of looking at it. and it was hard to look away.
Thats one of the arguments the cabbies are making against it. knowing how shady they are, i wouldnt be surprised if they sabotaged their own card swipes. "sorry, credit card no working, is broke, only cash, or get out." (disclosure: i hate cabs.)
I was in a cab athat had one recently. I turned it off, as will most people I suspect. It's a huge waste of money.
the nausea experienced in one of these cabs is no worse than your typical ride in a NYC cab, where you can encounter anything from a used condom wrapper, to a fresh snot rocket, to other unmentionable body fluids. stop complaining and take the bus!
I was able to turn it off, kinda - in actuality the thing never really turns off and the screen keeps glowing. The light's pretty harsh and disturbing if you're taking a cab at night.
It was fun for the 30 seconds...the new car smell turned to typical cab smell quickly..
Strike? If you don't like it, find another job! Damn cabbies with their sense of entitlement. I'm sure Mount Sinai's looking for more neurosurgeons. What? You're not qualified? Then shut up!
If they strike, their medallions should be taken away and resold.
Note to taxi drivers---
All businesses have to invest in equipment from time to time. Deal with it or find a new line up work.
P.S. Most of you can use a shower. Water is free, use it.
man. the 'concept cab' is ugly as hell, though I do think that the checkers are poised to make a comeback :-)
personally, I wouldn't mind if we just copied car designs from the 50s, and put new "guts" under the hood.
Anyone remember the celebrity announcements that would play every time you got into a car? Seems like they were installed in almost every car about ten years ago. Thankfully, it didn't last.
I remember one such recording had Rosie (the big mouth one) telling you to buckle up. Who knew then it was but a sign of things to come with her blowhardily telling everyone how they should live.
Don't worry about the screens. Unless they're scratchiti-proof and have not street value outside of cars, they won't last but a few months.
Talk about super-ugly and boxy design. It looks like a life-sized kid's toy, or a ceramic coin bank....
I now somehow miss the old clunky checker cabs w/the pulldown seats and checkerboard accent stripe on the outside.
I had one of these cabs a few weeks ago and I loved the system. Sure the programming was a little mindless, but it made the ride fly, plus due to roadworks we had to take a route different from the norm and the GPS, although not as good as those available in some rental cars I've had, at least allowed me to have a good idea what the driver was doing.
That taxi pictured is actually a Standard Taxi and they will be going into production in about 18 months or so and there have been several fleet orders in NYC and elsewhere. They are nice and roomy despite looking like the bastard child of a UPS truck and a Checker.
Leave the damn things alone ! Their is a such thing as to much technology you know ! If I were a cabby this would bother me to . Who wants there bosses following there every move . I see why the cabbies are talking about striking .