Comments

Armin • March 17, 2022 7:55 AM

My only question is, why? Why does a walk sign need to be connected to a computer (and presumably network)?

I understand that traffic lights might need to be connected to adjust phasing, turn them on/off at certain times. But why the actual output of the signal, in particular the voice output?

Ted • March 17, 2022 9:44 AM

The tweet also links to a product manual for the device.

I’m going to be honest. The manual – if indeed it’s the correct manual – isn’t particularly user-friendly. The referenced “CHANGE PASSWORD” feature is under a Getting Started section that’s 1/3rd of the way into the document.

Please raise your hand if you read the Getting Started instructions. Also if you read the instruction manual. Especially if the instructions seem obscure. Good for you.

Apparently it’s possible to change the password several ways – EConfigurator, USB, Ethernet. On these alerts I’m wondering ‘why now?’ Are these newer installations or what? Should we expect more of this if default passwords are banned?

https://neil.fraser.name/news/2019/Polara%20Operations%20Manual.pdf

André • March 17, 2022 9:46 AM

Ha ha. When they installed new signals in New Haven they did the same thing. Probably the same vendor.

Clive Robinson • March 17, 2022 10:32 AM

@ Ted, All,

Please raise your hand if you read the Getting Started instructions. Also if you read the instruction manual. Especially if the instructions seem obscure. Good for you.

Err you might want to change the “Good for you”

Apparently atleast someone has read either or both the Getting Started instructions / instruction manual…

Because the device is “vulnerable” in this state… and some person(s) have already “owned” some of them…

As the old saying has it,

“The Devil makes work for idle hands”.

JonKnowsNothing • March 17, 2022 10:43 AM

@ Armin

re: Why does a walk sign need to be connected to a computer?

Generically iirc(badly)

Modern Street Lighting and Road Signage systems can have multiple interactions. HiTech Street Lights may include a number of integrated systems

  • Gunshot orientation
  • Audio capture
  • Cop voice control
  • Cop travel tracking
  • Proximity detectors
  • GPS Tag /Geo-Relational Database system
  • Video
  • Telemetry (pedestrian capture) (1)
  • Chemical sniffer (warfare or domestic gas)

And lots more fun things.

All those black domes along the street and in parking lots and part of your neighbor’s door bell.

===

1) A local community has a pedestrian walk, jog, bike path with lovely electronic signs as you enter different parts of the trail. It states how many people are on the trail now. How many in the last N-Days. It states the average time people are on the trail and the distance to the next electronic sign. All from Thin Air.

Winter • March 17, 2022 10:44 AM

This strikes me as a very, very good way to remind those responsible to change the password.

Clive Robinson • March 17, 2022 10:45 AM

@ Armin, ALL,

Why does a walk sign need to be connected to a computer (and presumably network)?

For the same reason your new fridge probably has WiFi or Bluetooth in it.

1, The chips are cheap.

But also consider that the largest part of the cost in running these sorts of system even a few years back were,

1, Instalation
2, Confoguration / reconfiguration
3, Checking each unit status.
4, Repair.

That is everything that needed a human to “touch it”.

Put them all on a network of some form and only options 1&4 require a human to intervene, the rest can be done almost instantly on mass.

Whilst it might not appear like much, the savings in labour alone would be large… And when you addin the ease od changing the signals in a unified way, makes “Town Managment” so much easier…

Many would see it as a significant advantage.

JonKnowsNothing • March 17, 2022 11:51 AM

@All

re: Change Password on Portable Road Signs

There are portable generator powered signs with messages used to mark detours and give public directions. The individual units have their own passwords and some clever folks have found that not all the deployed units lock down the inputs for the message.

Some funny messages get flashed.

Odd messages result from display burn out.

note: not all messages are funny.

===

Search Terms

Road Sign Hacks

USA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Variable-message sign

Road traffic control device

Anonymous • March 17, 2022 11:53 AM

Given what type of work goes on in Crystal City, VA it’s probably not a bad idea to heed the warnings of random street infrastructure.

Ted • March 17, 2022 12:46 PM

@JonKnowsNothing

It states how many people are on the trail now. How many in the last N-Days. It states the average time people are on the trail and the distance to the next electronic sign.

Is this in the States? I’m accustomed to seeing electronic highway signs with estimated times to exits. But what you mentioned is a lot of additional info.

There’s a lovely trail in my city but it doesn’t have high traffic all the time. I love peace and quiet, but I don’t feel very relaxed when I’m alone on more secluded parts of it. I can use the parking lot to try to judge how many people might be on the trail. Unless I can see that there’s a moderate amount of people there, I go somewhere else.

JonKnowsNothing • March 17, 2022 6:43 PM

@Ted

re: Is this in the States?

Yes. The signs are called “Eco-Display or Eco-Signs” . They can have different options and messages.

It’s technically not that much different than counting cars along the streets.

You may need some good DDG-Fu to find the images.

===

Searches & Terms

May 2018

ht tps://www.clovisroundup.com/city-of-clovis-unveils-counting-system-along-old-town-trail/

  • New equipment has been installed to count pedestrians and bicyclists along the Old Town and Dry Creek Trails in Clovis [California].

Grand Opening of an Eco-Display Counter [Clovis California]

  • The equipment uses special sensors to count and distinguish between bicyclists and pedestrians walking or jogging along the path. The counter displays the number of pedestrians and bicyclists who use the path each day, and also year-to-date. The data acquired will also be uploaded on a daily basis to the City website for the public to view and will allow City staff to better analyze year-round usage patterns of our trail systems.

link to a photo

ht tps://i0.wp.com/www.clovisroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_4302.jpg

Street Furniture

Jesse Thompson • March 17, 2022 7:10 PM

See, this is why we need to give whistles to traffic cops again and send them to every intersection. After all, we never had this problem when my great-grandpappy was my age!

What Could Possibly Go Wrong™.

Dave • March 17, 2022 10:52 PM

A bigger question is, why does a walk sign need detailed, step-by-step instructions? I’ve never seen that before in any country I’ve been in. In Slovenia I saw one that had “To reset the world, press here” added to it, and in Austria they have couples holding hands, including same-sex couples, but I’ve never seen one that needed a long list of instructions.

Denton Scratch • March 18, 2022 7:46 AM

I don’t see any “change password” legend; perhaps my eyesight is defective. All I see is over-complicated printed street signage.

Winter • March 18, 2022 7:49 AM

Denton Scratch
“I don’t see any “change password” legend;”

It was audio. The message was spoken by a Speech Syntehsizer.

tim • March 20, 2022 1:47 PM

Although this could of been designed a bit better – kudos to the manufacturer for implementing this feature.

And it appears the city’s employees need better training.

why does a walk sign need detailed, step-by-step instructions

5 lines of text is “detailed, step by step instructions”?

tim • March 20, 2022 1:50 PM

@researcherzero

Don’t use “password” as the password either.

How is that relevant to this post?

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