Is Debra Master of Wine gone for good?
It seems so. The company behind those touchscreens in the back of cabs, Shanghai's Touchmedia, has reportedly gone under.
Shanghai Daily reports that former employees are saying the company is bankrupt and is currently being liquidated. After trying to get in touch with the company they found their Shanghai offices empty and that their registered number is no longer in service.
As of April 2013, 22,000 local cabs had the screens installed, but now taxi companies have begun the process of removing the screens from their cars. Local company Haibo has terminated its contract with the technology firm and removed the screens. Dazhong Taxi, who previously had the screens installed in some 4,000 of their cabs, has now covered them with plastic caps.
The early successes and innovations of the company have since been superseded by more modern technology. Speaking to Shanghai Daily, local resident Zhang Jue said "I occasionally tap the screen during a ride to kill time, but I won’t miss it if it is gone. After all, I use ride-hailing services more often than taxis now and if I want to kill time, I have the smartphone.”
Though we mourn the passing of this tactile institution, we will always have the fond memories of the aforementioned Master of Wine, as well as the backseat workout routine of “Miss Wow."
[Images via Nanfang]
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