More digital ads to be shown in Seattle taxis

Apparently no one cares if there's a screen in front of him or her flashing advertising during taxi rides. So there will be more of them in Seattle.

In a pilot project, advertising company Seattle Digital Signage put up screens in 10 Orange Cabs, and because no one complained, the city has given the company permission to put up more screens with ads.

The screens are mounted on the back of the driver and passenger headrests, facing riders in the back seats. During testing in February, ads interspersed with news headlines and traffic maps flashed on the screens.

In addition, the company made all the cabs available for Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to use their laptops while sitting in traffic.

Craig Leisy, manager of the city's consumer affairs unit, which regulates taxi service, said the agency received positive responses during the test, especially about the Wi-Fi service.

"We're high-tech here, so I guess people really liked that," Leisy said.

Mike Draghici, the ad company's president, had no timetable for installing more screens. But he said Seattle Digital Signage would begin by putting them in all Orange Cabs, before working with other taxi companies.

He said the company also would be working with news outlets, governments and health organizations to develop other content for the screens.