Word: meters
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Half the suggestions the city people came up with were news to Vivato. "They sat down and said, 'You know what we're using this for?'" Stalter said. "They're listing the applications. We had no idea. We don't know what the meter maid does all day." Now fire fighters can download the floor plans of burning buildings while they're on the way to the scene, right down to the room where the oily rags are stored. In the next few months the city is planning to give fire fighters clip-on webcams that can stream video back...
That started those computer gnomes thinking. City employees--police, fire fighters, meter cops and others--tend to roam around a lot. They need information, but they can't be bogged down with wires and cables. Maybe a huge zone of wireless Internet access could be part of the city's infrastructure...
Next come the parking meters. Soon, a parking attendant who writes you a ticket in Spokane will also be able to run your plates to see whether your car is hot. And when your time runs out, the fancy wi-fi-enabled parking meters will be smart enough to page a meter cop, so you will get all the parking tickets you deserve. Who knows, one day the meter could also be programmed to page your house to warn you that you're about to get a ticket--or to let your spouse know that you're parked in front...
...Internet connection. Starz! won't let you in the door unless your DSL or cable modem is clocking at least 600 kilobits per second. (Tip: you can test your line at toast.net/ performance. If you think Starz! is rejecting you without merit, try again later; the site's speed meter is not always right...
Brenda Taylor ’01 is a member of the USA Track and Field team. She competed in the 400 meter hurdle finals at this summer’s Olympic Games...