Mass transit is often synonymous with anxiety due to complicated wayfinding, service disruptions, communication barriers, and human error. Directional apps like Google Maps have been instrumental in improving door-to-door trip planning, but fall short when accounting for the real-time intricacies.
Augmented Reality is already being utilized to develop early-stage holographic navigation for cars, so we asked: Could it similarly enhance mass transit by providing all riders with relevant information in the form of an intelligent guide on their device?
Patrick runs a private tutoring service and needs to travel to the homes of several students each day. When meeting a new student in an unfamiliar neighborhood, he uses his smartphone and glasses to navigate to his destination without error.
Patrick’s glasses allow him to view simplified, customized directions in Mixed Reality, guiding him to the correct station where he can catch an express train. He sees his projected time of arrival and feels confident that he’ll reach his destination on time.
After finishing his first session, Patrick travels to his next student’s location. Because he has time to spare, he is shown recommended cafes to grab a quick bite within walking distance.
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.
