Hailing a cab without fisticuffs

(Credit: Tech Digest)

When we first heard of the "Taxi Hailer," we thought it was a joke. After all, it's basically just a flashing light, not some kind of state-of-the-art wireless dispatcher. But it's apparently been officially sanctioned by the London cabbie association, and some early street tests indicate some success.

Tech Digest says the credit-card-sized device has a "super bright" amber light that can be spotted easily on packed city streets, day or night. The Taxi Hailer site even features a video of it in action.

We'd use one of these in New York City if it guaranteed a cab in the pre-theater evening rush. At that hour, even The Donald would have trouble hailing a taxi.