Boston cabs recently began sporting oblong boxes with simple LCD screens anchored on the dashboard next to the driver. Always curious, I asked: GPS? No. Instead, it’s something that has anecdotally greatly improved the drivers’ fare intake: A computerized dispatch system to replace the constant stream of radio announcements. Before, every cab could hear the available fares over the radio, so the first one there won and the others had to find someone else.

i bet having this system in nyc could reduce all these empty cabs. but then i am not hopeful. the taxi mafia is getting a free ride from the congestion charge one hears.