This fall, San Francisco will test 6,000 of its 24,000 metered parking spaces in a trial of a wireless sensor network that will announce which of the spaces are free at any moment.

Drivers will be alerted to empty parking places either by displays on street signs, or by looking at maps on screens of their smartphones. In the future, they may even be able to pay for parking by cellphone, and add to the parking meter from their phones without returning to the car.

This is just the beginning IMHO of the new technological marvels that will not only improve our daily lives, but make traveling in to a city like San Francisco more pleasant.

In a related story, please check out my article on how the iPhone is helping to change travel.

The New York Times has more on this story.

Sweet! Technology hits the streets

Probably the thing I hate most about SF is parking. This could be a great thing if implemented properly.

WOW!!!
That is really amazing! Just for that I would invest into a Smartphone... if I lived there. But I think it can be a real solution for so many things! Technology will make things a lot easier... and will make our butts get bigger too.