Notification System
This was a group project designed by Tyla Stallbom, Jarryd Wedel, Anya Zinn, Dylan Godfrey and myself. Calm Technology, which represents digital information in a physical, unobtrusive way, was used as a design lens.
Train delays and closed lines have become a common issue that regular users of this service have to face daily. These delays are only communicated at the station, leaving many commuters waiting in limbo for the next train at the station, or in some cases, needing to make alternate travel arrangements.
These results in a lot of time wasted, an increase in traffic within an already congested and busy environment, as well as frustrated and stressed commuters who are now late to their destination.
How do we create an alternate way to present digital information regarding train departure to commuters – before they entered the station?
Trains on a certain route depart from the station as frequently as every 10 minutes during peak hours, and as much as every 30 minutes off-peak.
When a train traveling on a certain line is delayed, the whole line is delayed - these delays can range from 10 minutes to a complete line shut down.
Under normal circumstances, trains will be stationed at a platform for 20 minutes before departing again.
Many regular users of the trains depend either on other modes of public transport or walking to get to the station. Most frequented routes were through Thibault Square, through the Golden Acres Shopping Centre, and through the Grand Parade.
Tempo is an interactive installation that uses light to relay information regarding train departure to passers-by in a calm, unobtrusive way. It is connected to the system that updates the notice boards within the train station, Tempo constantly provides an up-to-date status on the train lines and departing times through light. When train enters the station lights of relevant arc activated.
The arch’s form will be made from mild steel sheet metal that will be galvanized before being bent and afterwards sprayed white.
The lights will be strip LED’s, as they use very little power (which is important as they will be almost in constant use), but are able to produce extremely high light intensity, along with a diffuser so that light is emitted across the surface of its casing.
Coloured polycarbonate plastic will be used to cover the LED strip as well as indicate the route its arch is representing through its colour.
