KHCW offers live traffic camera video service
Michael Gay December 18th, 2007
This is pretty cool if it works as advertised. The CW station in Houston just launched a new service that lets your mobile device access the live video from traffic cameras along your daily commute. It’s called (get ready for a mouthful of branding) “The CW39 Traffic Jam Cell Cams.” Over 500 cameras around Houston are available from the application you will need to install on your device. The Houston transit department is involved in the program as well. A company called 3rd Dimension developed the technology. I love the disclaimer on the site: “DO NOT USE WHILE DRIVING.” Good advice.
5 Comments Add your own
1. Daniel | December 19th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Now these people have your cell phone number. Just go the mobile version of Transtar for all the cameras (with no advertising and it’s free..)
2. Alan A. Reiter | December 19th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I just downloaded the app to my BlackBerry Curve 8320 via T-Mobile (in the Washington, D.C. area) and it seems to work okay.
I entered my phone’s number on CW 39’s Web page, received an SMS with a link to download the file, that downloaded in seconds.
You can see individual frames of the cameras or “real-time” traffic video. For the latter, you need to go to “Settings” and click “Continuous Refresh.”
(I’m a wireless data consultant and, as a general tip, whenever you download an app to your phone, it’s a very good idea to look at “settings.”)
I wish every jurisdiction would offer such a traffic service (security concerns notwithstanding).
3. Charles | December 19th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
That’s really cool. I’m glad to see that technology being implemented in more places. WOODTV8 allows you to see some cameras on the go (click my name), but I don’t think it’s nearly the number of KHCW’s service. (Although, I’m sure Houston warrants more cameras than Grand Rapids!)
4. Steve | December 20th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Is this more useful than say having an in-car navigation system that can suggest alternate routes?
5. S. Kabelowsky | December 21st, 2007 at 10:16 am
I do all of my Web surfing while driving…
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