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Pastimes : The New Qualcomm - write what you like thread. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: quartersawyer who wrote (1299)	12/24/1999 12:42:00 AM
From: T L Comiskey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12231

Traffic Tracking from Phones States to Test Cell Phones to Gauge Speed The Associated Press W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 22 ? Highway officials in Maryland and Virginia think cell phone users might make good traffic reporters ? simply by yakking on the phone behind the wheel. In an experiment early next year, the two states plan to measure traffic flow by tracking the speed motorists travel while talking on their cell phones, The Washington Post reported today. Actual phone conversations will not be monitored. Radio signals emitted from cell phones used by motorists will be tracked by cellular towers. Computers will pinpoint the caller?s location and calculate the speed of the phone user?s automobile based on how long the call lasted and how far the auto traveled. Pilot Program ?A lot of people in my position in other states will be watching to see if this works,? said Mike Zezeski, who directs traffic information services for the Maryland State Highway Administration. By monitoring when cars change speed, officials might be able to predict backups ? up to an hour before they happen ? and post messages in electronic sign boards to encourage commuters to take alternate routes. ?This could potentially provide a lot of data at a really low cost,? said Brian Smith, a civil engineering professor at the University of Virginia who advises the Virginia Department of Transportation. ?If this works, it?s going to take off really quickly.? Eventually from In-Car Signal Motorists might eventually be able to obtain this up-to-date traffic information from in-car computers, Zezeski said. ?Ten years from now, you might be able to get into a vehicle, punch in your destination and it will tell you which is the fastest route to take,? he said. Under a $750,000 contract, U.S. Wireless Corp. of San Ramon, Calif. will install computer equipment on cellular towers that will monitor the location of cell phone users as they drive on a 15-mile stretch of the Capital beltway south of Washington. Cell phone use will be monitored between U.S. 5 in Maryland and the interchange of Interstates 95, 495 and 395 in Springfield, Va. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserve