Using ChatGPT to Tell You About Collecting Traffic Lights

I asked Craiyon, an AI image generator, to create an image of a boy holding a traffic light.

As a Gen-X’er, I often express to others what an amazing time we are living in. Over the last roughly 100 years, we’ve gone from only half of the homes in the United States having electricity to having a device in your pocket that allows access to almost limitless knowledge with wireless visual communication to just about anyone on the planet.

In roughly that same time frame, we’ve gone from traffic control devices in which a human flipped switches to change a traffic signal every so many seconds to a system that intelligently recognizes changes in traffic flow through visual communication and adjusts signal timing on the fly while alerting the central office to any problems. Freakin’ amazing.

In November of 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a technology that seemingly writes for you based a few general bits of input from you. As a computer geek and often intrigued by technology in general, I figured I would see what it could do for me. So I asked it to:

“Write a detailed blog post about how people who collect traffic signals are often regarded as very unusual because of the nature of what they collect. Incorporate how more common collections of stamps and coins are more acceptable to the average person. Also include some history of traffic signals. Conclude by suggesting that people who collect traffic lights are also collecting and preserving pieces of automobile history.”

Over the span of about 56.8 seconds, I watched at ChatGPT wrote my masterpiece.

Enjoy.

Collecting Traffic Signals: An Unusual but Fascinating Pursuit

Traffic signals have been around for over a century, and they have come a long way from the simple red and green lights used to control the flow of vehicles. Today, traffic signals are sophisticated devices that use computer technology to manage the flow of traffic. Despite their technological advancement, the idea of collecting traffic signals still seems strange to many people. In this post, we will explore why people who collect traffic signals are often considered unusual, and how this differs from more accepted collections such as stamps and coins.

People who collect traffic signals are often regarded as unusual because of the nature of what they collect. Unlike stamps and coins, traffic signals are not seen as traditional collectibles. They are functional devices, not decorative objects. People who collect traffic signals are often considered to be eccentric, or even obsessive, because they are drawn to an object that many people see as simply part of the urban landscape.

I asked the AI-based image generator DALL-E for “a bunch of people looking a traffic signal in pixel art”.

However, this view of traffic signal collectors is not entirely fair. The fact is, collecting traffic signals is a hobby that is just as valid as collecting stamps or coins. Traffic signal collectors are fascinated by the history and technology of these devices, and they enjoy the challenge of acquiring rare and unique examples. Just like stamp and coin collectors, traffic signal collectors form communities, attend shows and events, and trade with one another.

Traffic signals have a long and interesting history. The first traffic signal was installed in London in 1868, and it consisted of a simple gas-lit signal that alternated between red and green. In the United States, the first electric traffic signal was installed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914. Traffic signals have since evolved to become computerized devices that use sensors and algorithms to manage the flow of traffic.

Collecting traffic signals is also a way of preserving pieces of automobile history. Traffic signals have been an integral part of the evolution of transportation, and they have played a significant role in shaping our cities and towns. By collecting traffic signals, people are preserving a part of our transportation heritage, and keeping alive the memory of how we once managed the flow of vehicles on our roads.

In conclusion, people who collect traffic signals are often regarded as unusual because of the nature of what they collect. However, this view is not entirely fair, as collecting traffic signals is just as valid as collecting stamps or coins. Traffic signals have a long and interesting history, and collecting them is a way of preserving pieces of automobile history. Whether you are a collector or just interested in the history of transportation, it is worth taking the time to appreciate the fascinating world of traffic signals.