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<b>Hi everyone,<br>
<br>
Just wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the technology
enhancement to NYC taxis we can expect itn eh future. <br>
<br>
Kate, President<br>
<br>
News clip embedded below. <br>
</b>
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<div class="yiv129278192MsoNormal">CARLY BALDWIN </div>
<div class="yiv129278192MsoNormal"><b>NEW YORK </b></div>
<div class="yiv129278192MsoNormal"><b>Published: </b>April 17, 2012
2:17 p.m.</div>
<div class="yiv129278192MsoNormal">Creative Mobile Technologies,
one of two companies that outfits the city's yellow cabs with credit
card readers, unveiled groundbreaking new technology today that will
make it much easier for blind or visually impaired taxi riders to pay —
and who was one of the first to use it?<br>
Former New York Gov. David Paterson, who is blind.<br>
"This
is the first time I'll be able to use a credit card by myself in a taxi
cab, and I was the Governor of New York!" joked Paterson today.<br>
The
software allows passengers to hear the fare changing in regular
intervals during the taxi ride. A prerecorded voice will also read
aloud all aspects of the credit card or cash payment once the taxi
reaches its destination, including fare verification and how much to
tip. Images will also be displayed on the taxi TV screens to help the
passengers.<br>
The audible touch screen system can be activated by a special card or
by simply asking the driver.<br>
Right
now, only a portion of the city's cabs will get the software. The
software will be installed into about 1,250 cabs in the next two weeks.
There are 13,237 cabs total in the city's fleet.<br>
How do you know you're in a cab with the technology? It will be audibly
announced on taxi TV when riders enter the cab.<br>
Before
the new devices, blind taxi passengers were forced to rely on cab
drivers to swipe their card and enter the correct amount, including
tip. Not only is this a violation of current TLC rules, but also it
exposes blind passengers to the risk of being ripped off, said
Councilman James Vacca, chair of the Council's Transportation
Committee, and whose father was blind.<br>
Vacca introduced a bill that will require all city cabs to have a
version of this software installed. </div>
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