The NYC subway system is looking a bit more space age now that interactive touch screen subway maps have debuted at Grand Central Terminal. The maps, which have been conveniently installed near MetroCard machines as well as on subway platforms themselves, are controlled by the gentle caresses of travelers in need. Behold the magic:
Touchscreen Subway Maps at Grand Central from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Real time information on train arrivals and service interruptions, as well as recommended routes and transfer points, can all be accessed through the touchscreens' slick interface.
If you see something, touch something (Scott Heins, Gothamist)
We went to give the gizmos a try and found them very easy to navigate and understand. In spite of this, however, nary a hurried soul stopped to try them out during our visit. The touchable maps stood tall and lonely, bathed in their own bluish glow while the city's human cacophony sped past. Surely in time their utility and smooth appearance will win over more users as the screens roll out to other stations later this year.
Gizmodo reports that the project is a collaboration between MTA and Control Group, "a local design and technology consultancy firm. Importantly, the city isn't paying for them. Control Group is footing the bill, in hopes that the kiosks will eventually pay for themselves with advertising revenue."
With Camille Lawhead
