Touchmedia creates interactive map for Shanghai taxis

Seems like taxis in Shanghai have been getting a whole lot of attention lately. Chinese in-taxi media company, Touchmedia, is launching an interactive map in more than 10,000 taxis around Shanghai next month, all in preparation for next year's Expo.

The fancy new feature is meant to help the 50 million expected visitors get around the city. It will list shopping and entertainment centers, restaurants, hotels, and other attractions in the city. Even major government offices! We'll see how many hits those get.

The coolest thing about the device is that passengers can select where they want to go, and it will play back the address in Mandarin to the driver. We're glad that Touchmedia has come up with a useful tool alongside the inane dribble of ads usually playing on those taxi screens.

We wonder, will much of the new infrastructure and conveniences go to waste once the Expo tides over? Case in point: what in the world has been going on in the Bird's Nest since Beijing 2008 Olympics?