Sep 2014 - Pointguard presented the intelligent taxi light at MAG's conference in Tällberg
Pointguard CEO Jesper Flygt presents the iToplight concept in true Steve Jobs spirit...
Tällberg, Sweden - 2014-09-23
Pointguard recently demonstrated the advantages of digital taxi lights, provided more information about iToplight, and offered a glimpse into the future of taxi signage for parts of the Swedish taxi industry at Megtax's user group annual conference. For those who were unable to attend, here are some highlights from the presentation:
Right now, the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine communication (M2M) are receiving a lot of attention in the media. Smaller and cheaper chips have made it easier to integrate intelligence into products, and a lot of smart, connected products are starting to appear on the market. Pointguard has been working with intelligent taxi lights for several years and currently offers no fewer than four different iToplight models. More models are under development, and the lights are constantly being equipped with more and more intelligent features. An iToplight can either be integrated with the existing computer/dispatch/taximeter in the car for fully automatic control, it can also be triggered by various hardware triggers in the car (fully or partially) or controlled by an app.
There is considerable interest in intelligent taxi lights abroad, and several international cities are developing various Smart Taxi concepts in which digital taxi lights are one of the cornerstones. Together with other intelligent equipment in the car, digital taxi lights transform taxis into high-tech vehicles that can serve both customers and society in completely new ways. One example is the ability to use sensors to collect various types of environmental data: Pointguard is currently integrating environmental sensors into our iToplights, among other things. The problem of poor air quality, and not least particles and smog, is widespread in many large cities around the world, and taxi companies are often portrayed as environmental villains. By collecting important air quality data with taxi lights, taxi companies now have a chance to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Among the other product innovations presented by Pointguard during the conference was Taxi Butler, a robust, mobile booking terminal for booking taxis from hotels, restaurants, and other locations with a single click. More about this will be available soon..
