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A Future of Wi-Fi Parking Tickets
The promise of wi-fi technology enabling an open transfer of data and ideas for the computer packing everyman is rapidly unraveling. Streetline Networks CEO Tod Dykstra wants cities to stuff their coffers with lost parking ticket revenue using his company's wireless parking monitoring technology. Streetline's vehicle sensors monitor the physical time and space occupied by a vehicle, while its meter monitors keep track of the inner workings of a meter. Both systems broadcast violations wirelessly back to central bureaucracy, which will spit out tickets to scofflaws [Actually, the technology won't spit out tickets. Rather, it will just allow municipalities to better redirect assets to more effectively price meters and directing enforcement to reduce congestion, generate more revenue, increase turnover, etc. — not to individually ticket drivers. -Ed.]. (Thanks to Cole Coonce for the tip) [Wireless Sensors to Modernize Parking via Wi-fiplanet.com]
news
Avis Putting WiFi in Rental Cars
The people who try harder are adding one more way to chew up your daily rental car allowance: for eleven smacks a day, our circuit-geek brothers at Gizmodo report, you'll soon be able to add a WiFi hotspot to your car. The service works via cell towers and offers up speeds somewhere between dialup and DSL. While our Gizbros' thoughts immediately went to in-car smut, we think it'd be a handy tool for getting directions, especially if the car's lacking GPS. Then again, what's a map cost? Two bucks? More »
gadgets
DaimlerChrysler Tests WLAN Car-to-Car Communication System
Car-to-car communication has nothing to do with gesturing after a close call on the highway. Futurists foresee a time when cars will use systems of GPS and WiFi tech to let them communicate with each other, relaying information about road conditions and traffic anomalies to prevent smash-ups. DaimlerChrysler is testing such a system — dubbed Willwarn (Wireless Local Danger Warning), with which vehicles are able to "warn" of critical situations picked up by on-board sensors, such as fog, black ice or obstacles such as broken-down car. Such distant early warnings, theoretically, would allow a driver time to take evasive action. As DaimlerChrysler notes in a press release, the system could be enhanced by adding radio beacons at the roadside to give traffic control centers ground reports, as well as transmit information on traffic, construction and other route-related issues. No word on when such a system will be in place, but he who comes out first often sets the standard, a benefit DCX and its suppliers are likely gunning for. More »
news
Wi-Fi! For Safety!
Dr. Raja Sengupta of Cal has come up with a novel imminent-collision-awareness idea. First, we kill all the lawyers. Then we equip each car with GPS and a Wi-Fi transmitter. Then, cars talk to each other and decide where they are in relation to each other. It's an interesting idea, and GM's throwing some money at it, but cripes if it doesn't sound like it could totally be used for evil. We're not sure on this one. More »
gadgets
