JF 21 Jun 05

One thing that annoys me is “Climate” and “Environment” when it comes to setting the temperature inside cars. It’s not climate or environment (you can’t adjust the humidity, etc). Just say “Hotter” or “Colder” — make it simple and make the connection clear. What does it mean to “+” the climate?

Dan Boland 21 Jun 05

Just say �Hotter� or �Colder� � make it simple and make the connection clear.

An even clearer representation would be to utilize colors (blue = cold, red = hot), that way you don’t have to speak English to understand how to change the temperature.

I like the “cabsule” idea on paper, but I sure wouldn’t want to get in an accident in one.

Reuben 21 Jun 05

If they make the hat in the top left of this pic, I will definately freakin’ get one!

Tim 21 Jun 05

@ Dan:
Colors are not a good idea - Not everyone can distinguish something from its color.
Using a combination of colors + shapes + words could meet everybody’s need…

Why yellow ? ;-)

8500 21 Jun 05

That hat pic is too funny. Is the plan to leave the options open to the individual cabbie to select his hat style?

I want the cabbie fez!

Adam Thody 21 Jun 05

I think they should randomly assign the hat types :D

The map is brilliant. Being an out-of-towner you feel pretty vulnerable relying on drivers to take the most economical route.

Benjy 21 Jun 05

If they make the hat in the top left of this pic, I will definately freakin� get one!
Yeah, those uniform hats were pretty funny. But is that one in the top left for all the Canadian cabbies in NYC?

BTW, has anyone else noticed the subtle changes to the Chicago cab passenger bill of rights? Drivers are no longer required to take the shortest route and are no longer prohibited from talking on their cell phones. They only have to do those things if asked. So they’ve raised the prices and lowered the user experience?

Dan Boland 21 Jun 05

Colors are not a good idea - Not everyone can distinguish something from its color.

Okay, then slap a C and an H on opposite ends of a color band, like most tubs have. Problem solved.

Being an out-of-towner you feel pretty vulnerable relying on drivers to take the most economical route.

I know what that’s like… when my wife and I went to Las Vegas last summer, the cab ride from McCarran Airport to our hotel cost $22, while the ride back was $8.

DaleV 21 Jun 05

This taxi-sign issue is one of my longest-standing pet-peeves:

If you need a fare, LEAVE YOUR SIGN LIT! If you are occupied, TURN IT OFF!

And here’s what they do now: have a LIT sign that says ‘IN USE’ … unbelievable. So at a distance I can’t tell if they are vacant or not. Grrrrr.

Graham Hicks 21 Jun 05

Remember that these are concepts, not finished designs. The point here is the idea, not the execution.

I think “climate” also includes the fan, not just temperature (there are four buttons there).

…the cab ride from McCarran Airport to our hotel cost $22, while the ride back was $8.

I don’t know if this applies in your case, but a lot of cities apply limits or fees on trips to or from the airport. In San Francisco you pay an extra $3 leaving the airport that you don’t pay arriving at the airport. In NYC there is a $45 flat fare from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, but to go from Manhattan to JFK you pay the regular metered fare.

Jeff Wheeler 21 Jun 05

I’m not sure how often this happens, but it seems quite likely that somebody would want to pay from the front. I assume this would be quite frequent, especially with parties of 3. Is that even legal, I don’t know.

The design in your image doesn’t allow for it though.

Tom 21 Jun 05

Some folks complaining about the issue of availability are obviously not in New York… it’s an obvious (and binary) indicator with NYC cabs — if the meter is running the light on top behind the medallion number is off, and if the meter is not running (the cab is available) the light is on.
A separate indicator displays “off duty” status, although that’s a much rarer state. You can see if a cab is available from at least a quarter mile away (5 blocks) — and my vision sucks.

The only time you can’t tell the status easily is if the sun is directly behind the taxi… but almost any visible indicator would be disrupted by that situation.

An obvious tourist giveaway here in NYC is people waving at cabs with their lights off. It should be a fairly easy system to figure out after first cab or two go by.

As for temp indicators — color plus symbol covers language and color blindness issues — flame to snowflake, red to blue. It’s not rocket science. And in the end, if you push it the wrong way, you find out immediately and can reverse without harm.

Adam Codega 21 Jun 05

It’s very neat to see dialog like this, the taxi is such an iconic symbol. While the taxi indicator is easy to figure out I think a better design could be used.

Wheeler: I don’t think this is SvN’s design. Have you been in a taxi? Taxi drivers take payment from you while you are still in the taxi.

I’m surprised that people aren’t making comments about Matt’s tongue in cheek joke directed towards SvN commenters in his opening quotation. It’s applying well to this post as well.

Jeff 21 Jun 05

Adam,

You ever gone out drinking and had to cram 5 people in a taxi? They don’t all sit in back - perhaps the person in the front seat wants to pay? I think Wheeler was just saying that in these designs, it’s not possible….

unless of course, cash might still be accepted.

I will say that the last two taxi’s I’ve been in (Manchester, NH and Nantucket, MA) have both been minivans….much better idea than a sedan and it seems this design is heading towards that larger type of vehicle.

Anonymous 22 Jun 05

Even the shark’s going “wtf?!”