Microsoft Introduces "Clearflow" Live Traffic Routing Service

by Will Safer on April 10, 2008 at 01:02 PM

Clearflow traffic information from Microsoft

Microsoft has announced a new tool for drivers to avoid traffic jams. The service, called "Clearflow", calculates how tie-ups affect backups on local city streets which could mean more accurate rerouting along busy routes. There's no word yet on how this could be integrated into personal portable navigation devices.

According to a report in the New York Times, Microsoft's new Clearflow is the result of a five-year project by the company's artificial intelligence team at Microsoft Research laboratories. Clearflow predicts how "complex traffic interactions ... occur as traffic backs up on freeways and spills over onto city streets" in 72 different urban areas.

This is one more way Microsoft is trying to catch up with Google's array of online services, which do include maps with projected traffic delays, but Google's and other Web sites' traffic information is mainly limited to highways and major interchanges.

Mobile device users will be able to look up current traffic information but its still unclear if the service will soon be integrated into live traffic routing on GPS devices.

Garmin, for example, already allows its device users to connect with traffic information service provided by MSN Direct. Garmin users with a compatible antenna receive MSN Direct information which allows drivers to "find the best route through traffic, check traffic flow and receive accident warnings." It also provides information on local gas prices, movie times and weather forecasts.

Clearflow is supposed to be launched today but cursory looks at traffic route information for New York City and Chicago didn't seem to show side street information or alternative routes.

From The New York Times.

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Tags: gps, maps, microsoft, routing, traffic

Comments

JeffApr 10th 2008 1:43PM

Neutral

It would be cool if Navigation Devices would track your speed based on relative position and time, and relay that data back to the server for traffic-measuring purposes. Then they could suggest side-streets based on the data submitted by devices actually traveling on them. Maybe that's how they do it now, I don't know; I'm not a doctor.

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Big SamApr 10th 2008 3:12PM

Neutral

Its called the Dash

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JeffApr 10th 2008 4:40PM

Neutral

So it is... an can be found directly under this article. That'll teach me for not reading.

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QuikboyApr 11th 2008 5:26AM

Neutral

Thanks for covering this. Live Maps just keeps on getting better every day!

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Driver IApr 13th 2008 3:08PM

Neutral

Yeah, We'll see.... Microsoft with all it's bugs....
the traffic will probably get worse.
Someone's joking about this right?

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Driver IApr 13th 2008 3:17PM

Neutral

Hey Jeff,
My GPS already does that, and the last thing I would buy is a Microsoft. If I'm in traffic, I can check my GPS map for side streets. Dah!

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joeApr 13th 2008 4:08PM

Neutral

I use a wirleless card to access the internet. I use it also I have to travel. Is there a program that will allow me to access directions as a navigator program to find locations or take turn by turn directions to find a location.

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Hank SehneApr 13th 2008 5:03PM

Neutral

Microsoft can't get their VISTA operating system running without problems, why would I trust them using Clearflow?

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Marshall LewisApr 13th 2008 6:53PM

Neutral

Get over it, traffic tie ups happen. You cannot control your life, and every aspect of it.............like traffic jams.

Only now instead of keeping eyes on the road, people will be checking thier mobile devices.......which are the cause of so many more accidents.

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RussApr 30th 2008 8:18PM

Neutral

I've been a volunteer tester of the new Dash GPS unit for nearly a year, and it's true, they've already got the technology working. It's Awesome, like a GPS on steroids. You subscribe to the service on a monthly basis instead of getting hit with a big update bill every year. Maps stay much more current, and the traffic even alerts you if theirs a tie-up ahead so you can reroute. It's got two-way connectivity with the satellites and also wi-fi along with Yahoo search. It gives gas prices, movie times, and more. I don't know how I ever got anywhere on time without it.

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RussApr 30th 2008 8:19PM

Neutral

Greeting Jeff,

That's kind of how the Dash unit works. You would probably find it interesting to read about it on amazon.com

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