Nokia and UC Berkeley have teamed up to test a new technology where cell phone will be able to monitor and predict traffic flows. Over a 100 students and VIPs from companies like Nokia Navteq, GM, BMW and CalTrans attended to test the technology on a 10-mile stretch nearby the 880 freeway.

Each student was issued a GPS enabled Nokia N95, a Bluetooth headset and a car. The students drove the freeway as their phones sent back data to Nokia’s research facility about their current location and speed. The data received was then compiled to predict traffic patterns and help drivers get where they need to quickly.

Speaking with CNet News, Bob Iannucci, Nokia’s Senior Vice President, said:
“Well think about the day where the phone can also know, that you’re about to go to the other side of the Bay for a meeting. The phone can proactively say ‘I see you have a meeting coming up in an hour and the route you usually take is congested, you probably need to leave 15 minutes early. Well that’s actually possible with the technology we’re testing here today.”

 

Cool & Scary at the same time.