People in Shanghai recently noticed that taxi drivers could select the best route for them simply by entering names of the starting place and terminal onto a touch screen installed in the cab.

During the Spring Festival, a batch of the so-called "intelligent controlling terminals" was put to use in taxi cabs in Shanghai. This is the first time that taxi cabs in China are equipped with such smart devices, Chinanews.cn reported today.

As Shanghai is undertaking tremendous changes every day, many cab drivers feel it difficult to find out the correct routes for their passengers. The smart navigational system, jointly developed by the Volkswagen Technology Co., Ltd. and several other companies together, offers an easy interface for drivers.

Apart from selecting the best route possible, the system could also inform passengers about the latest road information. With this information, passengers can choose their own way of going to avoid crowded places and arrive at their destinations in a fastest way and with least money used.

(Chinanews February 5, 2006)