1. MASSDOT DEVELOPERS
Chris Dempsey and Joshua Robin
Massachusetts Department of Transportation

2. WHY IS IT SO EASY TO FIND
REAL-TIME WEATHER REPORTS?
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3. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
INFORMATION IS OPEN
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4. AS A RESULT, CONSUMERS
HAVE LOTS OF CHOICES

5. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT
WHEN THE NEXT BUS WILL ARRIVE?
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6. MBTA INFORMATION WAS “CLOSED”
=
ONE CHOICE
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7. SO, IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WE DECIDED
TO MAKE MBTA BASIC TRIP PLANNING
INFORMATION OPEN
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8. BY NOVEMBER, THERE WERE SIX
INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS BUILT
WITH MBTA DATA
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9. GREAT, BUT WHEN IS THE NEXT BUS
ACTUALLY GOING TO SHOW UP?
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10. TRADITIONAL MODEL
First, (1) Countdown Signs
Then, (2) Web and Phone Distribution
Then, Maybe, (3) Share with Others

11. WHAT IF WE REVERSED
THE ORDER?

12. COULD WE MAKE MBTA BUS LOCATION
INFORMATION AS EASY TO FIND AS A
WEATHER REPORT?

13. ON NOVEMBER 14th, AS PART OF A
TRIAL PROGRAM, THE MBTA
RELEASED A REAL-TIME DATA
FEED FOR FIVE BUS LINES
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14. WITHIN ONE HOUR…
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15. WITHIN ONE HOUR…
A developer integrated the trial data into Google Earth to
show the real-time locations of the buses:
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16. WITHIN TWO DAYS…
A developer integrated the trial data into a free, easily-
accessible web page, where T riders can track the buses
from any internet-accessible computer:
http://mbta-bus.appspot.com
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17. WITHIN ONE WEEK…
A developer built a desktop application that displays the
countdown information for the rider’s favorite stop:
http://www.wirelust.com
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18. WITHIN TWO WEEKS…
A developer built a simple web application that displays the
bus countdown information without the need for a map:
http://www.clickteam.info/davidn/mbta/mbtabuses.php
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19. WITHIN ONE MONTH…
A developer built an LED sign that shows real-time bus
countdown information on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain:
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20. WITHIN FIVE WEEKS…
A developer built iPhone and Android apps that integrate the
real-time trial data. The apps cost just 99 cents:
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21. WITHIN SEVEN WEEKS…
A developer built a system that delivers the real-time data to
any phone, mobile or landline:
*
*Try if for yourself by dialing 617-213-0911
Use stop code (0330) or (0289)
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22. WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS…
A developer built a system that delivers the real-time data by
text message to any mobile phone:
*Try if for yourself by texting 617.299.6591
this message: bus: 39: 51391
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23. WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS
Developers launched more apps included free applications:
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24. AND PEOPLE NOTICED:
These apps received positive press from:
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25. WITH THOSE RESULTS*
FOR JUST FIVE BUS LINES
IN SEVEN WEEKS…
*ALL AT NO COST TO THE MBTA
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26. WHAT MIGHT DEVELOPERS
CREATE IF WE UNLOCK
LOCATION DATA FOR
THE ENTIRE BUS SYSTEM?
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27. HERE’S WHAT DEVELOPERS HAVE
DONE IN OTHER PLACES:
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28. Baggage
Claim
Info at
Portland
Airport
Real-Time
Train Arrival
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29. Community
Advertisement
in a Chicago
Bakery
Real-Time
Bus Arrival
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30. $130
Sony
Bluetooth
Wristwatch
Real-Time
Bus Arrival
*YES, THIS REALLY EXISTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
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31. WITHIN ONE YEAR WE CAN
MAKE MBTA BUS
LOCATION INFORMATION
AS EASY TO FIND AS THE
CURRENT TEMPERATURE
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32. HOW DO WE GET THERE?
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33. WE BUILD A SIMPLE, RELIABLE
INTERFACE BETWEEN THE EXISTING
BUS GPS SYSTEM AND 3rd PARTIES
GPS
COMPLEX, DIVERSE,
CUSTOMER-FACING
APPLICATIONS ARE
BUILT AT NO COST TO
THE MBTA
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34. WHY PRESENT TO TMAs?
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35. SHARE THESE TOOLS
WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES
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36. SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH US
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37. SHARE THIS STRATEGY
WITH YOUR STAKEHOLDERS
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38. http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers

39. http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
christopher.dempsey@state.ma.us
joshua.robin@state.ma.us
Twitter: @massdotdev
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