And the truth is that the improvements which are against a conventional taxi can become critical … no, do not think so, I was just kidding.
First take a look at the video and then read on, please.

I guess most you have already had the experience of going in a taxi. The process begins, as it shows the video, ordering a taxi. In this case you call it by a portable app, installed in an iPad for the occasion, and you wait it to arrive, communicating one with each other through data network and GPS. You can display the position of the taxi (this is great, because you know if they are really going to come or not, because sometimes one is desperate and it also increases confidence with the client) and even display data from the laser that the vehicle has (in my opinion, this is an excesive load and unnecessary information, but can be a plus point ahead of an initial system installation to provide more knowledge to the user and tranquility.

So far, for me, they are point that could be installed in a current taxi system and may result in a very positive way, as I´ve said. But once the car has come and one gets inside it changes to a completely different way. In the video the actor gets inside in the back, but more than one would do it in the driver position… it is a matter of doing propper designed taxis with the system as a base…

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The machine is designed to do no harm to man and then run their business. The margin of error  should be null and always follow the rules. Put yourself in situation: one-way street with a red light and without crossing, the user has a lot of haste, is in an emergency, “there are no pedestrians, skip the light, it is very urgent!” How would do a taxi driver and how a machine? The answer may be something like:

-Taxi Driver: I understand, but can not (talking) … or … ok, but is 50 euros more … or … ok, I understand, but I will carefully … or … ok, Schumacher, but then sign the car before leaving…

-Machine: Procedure prohibited.

And we’re talking about an extreme case (6 points driver license card in Spain and substantial penalty), but you have to play with multiple type variables. Pedestrians that will not cross but are put on the edge of the pedestrian crossing, strange movements of other vehicles but they are understood through visual or auditory communication (looking, yelling, etc.). The city is a jungle and it is clear that taxi drivers are the kings of the asphalt between buildings. You could even talk of human treatment, but it is not always there and probably many do not want to be.

Maybe this system is great to implement in vehicles and that works very well, I have no doubt, but what do you think of the response of people to this? What about the union of taxi drivers?

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