Nokia mobiles will predict traffic jams

Nokia is working on a technique to predict traffic jams based on GPS data and to adjust the agendas of telephone owners accordingly. This is what researcher Leo Kärkkäinen of the Nokia Research Center says in an interview.

Nokia is experimenting with a new application that makes it possible to predict traffic flows based on GPS data from phone owners, say Kärkkäinen in an interview with weblog De Nieuwe Reporter. A phone must be able to estimate travel times based on that data and adjust the owner’s agenda so that he arrives on time for his appointment.

The researcher expects a lot from the next seven years: “A revolution of models with different forms and practical applications is coming.” For example, telephones could independently make medical diagnoses. In addition to innovative applications, work is also being done on new hardware: “We are reaching the point where new technology also makes expandable devices possible. Screens then become flexible like rubber.”

Kärkkäinen thinks that camera applications in telephones can now even compete with ordinary cameras. “Current cameras are good enough quality for web applications. Only if you want a specific exposure or something like that, you have to use something more advanced. There will always be differences, but of course the cameras are also getting better. I don’t know when, but there will be there will come a time when good quality content will be delivered by mobile phones.”