Slides for a quick talk at TransitCamp Bay Area! A simple and forgiving text messaging service for San Francisco Muni arrival times.

1. Message Muni
A simple and forgiving text messaging service for
San Francisco Muni arrival times.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

2. About this project
• Independent project, not for profit.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

3. About this project
• Independent project, not for profit.
• Just a guy who wanted to scratch an itch...
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

4. About this project
• Independent project, not for profit.
• Just a guy who wanted to scratch an itch...
• ... in a way that would help as many of my fellow
Muni riders as possible.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

5. About this project
• Independent project, not for profit.
• Just a guy who wanted to scratch an itch...
• ... in a way that would help as many of my fellow
Muni riders as possible.
• I Muni and NextBus!
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

6. Why text messaging?
• Quick asynchronous interaction well suited for the
chaotic context of public transit.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

7. Why text messaging?
• Quick asynchronous interaction well suited for the
chaotic context of public transit.
• Want to make the service accessible to as many
people as possible.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

8. Why text messaging?
• Quick asynchronous interaction well suited for the
chaotic context of public transit.
• Want to make the service accessible to as many
people as possible.
• Enjoy the challenge of working within constraints.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

9. My approach
• Think about the interaction design first,
implementation second.
• Design using my own experiences as a daily rider,
but also others – learn from friends and
coworkers with varying levels of Muni experience.
• Prototype, try it out, prototype some more!
• How far can I go with cheap and free resources?
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

10. Interaction philosophy
• Keep things simple and obvious.
• Learn as you use the service.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

11. Interaction philosophy
• Keep things simple and obvious.
• Learn as you use the service.
• Use knowledge of the world people already have.
• Streets, stations, places – not stop codes.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

12. Interaction philosophy
• Keep things simple and obvious.
• Learn as you use the service.
• Use knowledge of the world people already have.
• Streets, stations, places – not stop codes.
• Make the service forgiving. Close is good enough.
• Compensate for creative spelling, find the
nearest stop.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

13. First encounter
To: 41411 From: 41411
muni Get Muni arrival times.
For example reply:
muni n 9th and irving
muni j powell
muni 6 5th and market
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

14. Getting times
Reply to: 41411 From: 41411
muni n 9th and irving N at 9th and Irving
To Downtown: 2, 10, 15
To Ocean Beach: 3, 8, 11
Save a shortcut! Ex:
reply “muni add towork”
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

15. Save a shortcut
Reply to: 41411 From: 41411
muni add towork Shortcut “towork”
saved for N at 9th
and Irving.
You can now send
“muni towork” for
times.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

16. Still waiting?
To: 41411 From: 41411
muni up N at 9th and Irving
To Downtown: 1, 7, 11
To Ocean Beach: 1, 5, 11
Update these times!
Reply “muni up”.
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

17. What makes it work
• NextBus and Muni!
• TextMarks
• Yahoo! Geocode API
• LAMP
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

18. Next steps
• Working prototype ➜ Release
• integration
• More complex shortcuts
• Location based features
• Rider feedback / system alerts
• Mapping fun!
• Data upkeep
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)

19. anks, Transit Camp!
• Let’s brainstorm!
• Site forthcoming, until then:
• http://jvollmer.org/messagemuni/
• Want to play with Message Muni after this session?
• Let’s trade info, and try this thing out in the field!
Message Muni John Vollmer (jvollmer@gmail.com)