NEW TECH ALERT—woo-woo-woo
In case you haven’t heard, Google has created a new Android app for all you frustrated city folk who endlessly round the block looking for someplace to jam your ride. It’s called “Open Spot.” With it you can open a little map of your area decorated with bubble markers that indicate an open parking spot somewhere near you.
And there’s a color change dynamic that helps you determine what your chances are of still having the opening. When the tiny chunk of real estate first pops up, it’s colored deep red—but it fades slowly to yellow the longer it remains unclaimed.
Now, in case you’re wondering if this is some kind of new Google Earth whiz-bang where satellites circle your neighborhood scoping out parking for the good of mankind, the answer would be no. (But that would be cool.) This info is actually being supplied through the goodness of you and your fellow drivers. Google has developed a “Karma” system that gives Karma Points to individuals who send up the good parking news when they back out of their current slot.
Of course, that’s where things can potentially get a little hinky.
I’ve been wrestling for years to lay claim to empty spots in the parking lots of life. Am I being too cynical when I say that good Samaritanism hasn’t always appeared to be a strong motivator for my fellow motorists? In fact, I can imagine a number of jokesters using the tech to earn their version of Prank Points. And if some guy races off to claim a marked yellowing spot only to find it in the shallow end of Lake Hoptacong, he ain’t gonna be all that happy.
Besides, in a crowded city, how long do spots usually stay open anyway? Two or three seconds, max? And if I shouldn’t be texting in my car (its illegal in a whole flotilla of states), should I be staring intently at my Open Spot map while simultaneously balancing my coffee cup, chewing my morning bagel and careening the corner for positioning?
Sorry. Sorry. I’m getting grumpy again aren’t I?
Viva la tech!
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