Travel and commuting can eat up a significant portion of our lives. In fact, the average New Yorker spends around six-and-a-half hours per week commuting, and Washington DC drivers spend an average of 82 hours each year sitting in traffic. To add to the frustration, this is often downtime that could be put to good use were it not for the discomforts and lack of connectivity on mass transit systems.
Productivity and leisure have already been integrated with travel at a basic level (e.g. wifi and in-flight entertainment systems on airplanes). More immersive technologies, combined with more flexible transit infrastructure, could take things to the next level. Mixed Reality is estimated to be an $80 billion business by 2025 and has the potential to create on-the-go work and play spaces for riders anywhere. Could an integrated, Mixed Reality workspace change the way we view mass transit?
Kelly begins her long commute to the office. She opts to board a designated “office” car, fitted with soundproofing and workstations.
To work remotely, Kelly utilizes a workstation on the train. It syncs with her personal device, giving her access to her files. She spends some time working on a presentation, then quickly sets up a Mixed Reality communication session to touch base with her team.
The system informs Kelly of some train traffic ahead, and confirms she’ll arrive in 15 minutes. She is given options to productively spend the remaining time, and decides to call her boyfriend to make plans for dinner.
To increase public mass transit ridership, embracing and harnessing emerging technologies will create adaptive and efficient systems that will provide additional value and enjoyment for riders. Moment has taken the first steps by exploring the possibilities in five key areas of impact: shared space, productivity, safety and supervision, ticketing, and wayfinding.
