Janet CollinsThe Voice of Technology
August 4th 2008 09:15
No one will ever be able to predict how far technology will be developed to connect all of us. I am continually surprised when I stumble upon new methods being used to contact me. The voice contacting me through my car radio is no exception.
Recently, while travelling late in the evening through the Lane Cove Tunnel, a voice interrupted the radio music with “Hello, this is the operators of the Lane Cove Tunnel. We are currently working on the tunnel and ask that you merge right into one lane…..”
My first reaction changed from shock, to curiosity to amusement. Lucky for me I didn’t slam on the brakes and go sliding into the side wall. There was a moment there that I thought I just may have been contacted from above, but no – it’s just a new form of communication being used by these infrastructure operators.
Today in a Sydney Morning Herald article I read how this technology is being developed even further overseas. Eventually, we will be able to talk to each other in cars, letting each other know of traffic jams, accidents and so on. The benefits of all this is for commuters to know far in advance of traffic congestion in certain spots and therefore be able to choose an alternative route. My first thought was that this type of technology was almost an invitation for pranksters but I’m sure our techno geniuses have thought of this one already.
So if you are driving on any of our motorways and a voice comes over your car radio, don’t swerve off the road or freak out thinking there has been some sort of divine intervention or some contact from the Twilight Zone. It’s only your friendly operator using the voice of technology.
Recently, while travelling late in the evening through the Lane Cove Tunnel, a voice interrupted the radio music with “Hello, this is the operators of the Lane Cove Tunnel. We are currently working on the tunnel and ask that you merge right into one lane…..”
My first reaction changed from shock, to curiosity to amusement. Lucky for me I didn’t slam on the brakes and go sliding into the side wall. There was a moment there that I thought I just may have been contacted from above, but no – it’s just a new form of communication being used by these infrastructure operators.
Today in a Sydney Morning Herald article I read how this technology is being developed even further overseas. Eventually, we will be able to talk to each other in cars, letting each other know of traffic jams, accidents and so on. The benefits of all this is for commuters to know far in advance of traffic congestion in certain spots and therefore be able to choose an alternative route. My first thought was that this type of technology was almost an invitation for pranksters but I’m sure our techno geniuses have thought of this one already.
So if you are driving on any of our motorways and a voice comes over your car radio, don’t swerve off the road or freak out thinking there has been some sort of divine intervention or some contact from the Twilight Zone. It’s only your friendly operator using the voice of technology.
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