Tablets may replace screens in New York cabs

The video screens that many New York City taxi cab passengers use to pass the time during their trips may soon get a technological boost, reports the New York Times.

According to the news provider, the Taxi and Limousine Commission is considering replacing the screens with embedded tablet computers. The proposal was brought forward by Square, a San Francisco-based mobile payment solutions provider, which has offered to replace the screens of 50 taxis with tablets.

Square will make a formal presentation to the commission on March 1, the Times reports.

Similar to the screens now in use, tablets in taxis would provide a level of entertainment value for passengers. Currently, content from television networks and trivia questions appear on the screens. Tablets would also allow passengers to use mobile payment technology to complete transactions.

Numerous companies have devised innovative uses for tablet computers. American Airlines, for example, has equipped many of the cockpits of its commercial planes with tablets that contain flight manuals and other information.