An outfit called TaxiTech announced today it has won approval to offer passenger touch-screen computers to New York City's 13,000 or so taxicabs. Clearly, TaxiTech has recognized our current cultural crisis -- a desperate need to increase the time we spend in front of a computer monitor.

Sure, I mean -- why not? Video displays and interactive touch screens are everywhere. Airplanes, tour buses, grocery store lines, doctor's offices -- pretty much anywhere you're likely to be standing or sitting around. I've registered a slogan for this, by the way -- "Don't Just Sit There, Be Advertised To!" (TM) Good for bumper stickers, company mottos, what have you. Interested parties can contact me via this website.

 The TaxiTech system offers some predictable features -- ad-supported music or video (captive audience and all). An interactive Yellow Pages and city directory. But also some rather useful options -- you can pay your fare by credit card (with tip!) or track your route in real-time via GPS. Some NYC cabbies are objecting to this last feature -- they feel it will prevent them from taking those traditionally creative "short cuts" with the tourists. However, taxi owners will be getting a cut of ad revenue generated by the displays, so there's that. It's like my Uncle Vito, a lifelong NYC cabbie, used to say: "Diversify your revenue streams, you [expletive] [adjective] [obscene gerund]!"

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