vehive

The NY yellow taxis are evolving.  Better seats, better tracking, better drivers, no honking, and now, muted TV.  

Passengers getting in the cab get a loud introduction from some celebrity and then can choose from variety of programming, such as news, weather, or some tid-bits from popular shows and sitcoms.

The Taxi TV makers and providers Creative Mobile Technology and VeriFone are loweing the volume.  The default volume on the TV devices will be set to quiet and the volume and mute buttons will be easily accessible and visible.

The drivers are excited.  How many times can you listen to Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes each day? Some claim that the TV is killing the drivers’ relationships with passengers.  Most passengers also appreciate the change.  No one yells at you when you get in the cab.  There is enough yelling in NY already.

Personally, having a TV when getting in the car is too distracting.  It’s hard enough to give the driver the destination address and watch where the driver is going, even without the TV talking over you.

What do you think?