Bluetooth use by governments

One of the effects of globalization is that every now and then you bump into the latest technology news in places that surprise you. For example, this past May 6, the Mexico City mayor tested the use of Bluetooth technology and cell phones to send the graphics he was presenting in a “state-of-the-city” speech.

For that purpose, the city hired a bluetooth company named Bluezen (couldn’t find anything on them in internet, though). They installed transmitters that could send these text messages (and seems that graphics too) to up to 300 meters (about 985 ft). They placed the transmitters in a downtown government office, the square we know as La Alameda also in downtown, another park named Bosque de Tlalpan south of downtown, and Mexico City international airport. These first messages were to report about how advanced is the paving of several important expressways leading to the airport (that area is currently a big mess, I know from experience).

The idea is to keep installing transmitters all over the city in places where there is a high concentration of people, to report among othere things where the traffic jams are, due to official works and/or protestors. This traffic jams sometimes might keep you from moving for hours.

If you want to read this news in Spanish you can find it here.