These prototypes are designed to be delivered complete, yet moddable and hacker-friendly, thanks to your friends at and made with Raspberry Pi (™).
Each unit is handle-assembled and coded on-demand just for you - your stop, your line, your size. After that, you are free to do whatever you like. Hack it, redistribute it, or contribute more to the campaign for an upgrade! It's kind of like "open source", but there aren't any restrictions on legal use.
Frames are locally-sourced and assembled, and made custom for each unit. (Don't worry, it will be some Bushwick hipster-quality material.)
5% of campaign contributions go directly back to youth technology education, even if I take a loss on the whole campaign.
The end game here is to get these into schools and workshops as affordable hacker units. When I started programming, 15 years of coding education was far less accessible. We’re much better now, but we still need to train young hackers! A highly effective hacking lesson for children is "reverse engineering" - the processes of tearing something down and rebuilding it from the ground up. This device incorporates many learnable aspects of technology, including coding, hardware, public networks and data, and how to apply it practically in your hands. This will be another venture in itself, but this campaign is designed to jumpstart it. For now, I will be taking a poll from all contributors to decide how we allocate 5% to education. My favorite considerations are codenow.org, girlswhocode.com and under-funded NYC public schools.
PLEASE NOTE: All upgrade/app perks are not the actual sign! You must contribute to a physical sign perk, and the upgrade/app perks will be retrofitted when they are available.
Please ask lots of questions before contributing! I would like the most transparency possible, however I do have a full-time job and will do my best to get back to you ASAP!
Faq:
Q. Are these really live and accurate?
Due to MTA policy, I am unable to use certain words in this claim. What I can tell you is I’m working with the same exact data as they are! In short, I can’t promise accuracy, only consistency with their systems.
Q: Do you support line besides 1/2/3, 4/5/6 & L?
A: Unfortunately not even the MTA has that data. I can only program for lines that physically have LED signs on their platforms. Technically the S and Sir are also available. I can substitute schedule values, but they wont be live. However, NYC Buses and other non MTA Subway trains are available live!
Q: What does the sign do when there is a delay?
A: It's designed to be a replica of the signs underground, so in short, it will do what they do. If there's a delay, it will say, “delay”. If there's a glitch and the system goes down, yours go down. It's only as good as the data it's pulling.
Q: What happens when the L train shuts down?
A: I'll reprogram it for a supported stop of your choosing. But that’s a long time off, and I'll have these out way before they pull a 2nd Ave.
Q: What happens if I move to a new stop?
A: Contribute to the app upgrade with line and stop switching, or hack it!
Q: What kind of frames do you offer?
A: The prototype was handmade in my neighbor's garage workshop with reclaimed wood. He charged me $200, so he will be honoring the same price for prototypes. If you want metal, or glass I will locally source a custom fabrication solution just for your size at cost.
Q: What are the mounting / stand options?
A: That will depend on your frame. Bare bones will have simple magnet mounts! Options are pretty limitless, and I will work with you for the perfect solution.
Q: What about other transit agencies like BOS (MSHTA?), Bay Area (Bart), DC, Tor, or buses?
A: After some research and development I am confident that integration will be possible, however it is currently unapproved and not demonstrated. If you make this contribution, and I am not able to deliver, your money towards this perk will be refunded.
Q: What sizes are available?
A: For reference the prototype in the video is a large, single-wide.
- Small:
- Small Double-Wide:
- Medium
- Medium Double-Wide
- Large
Q: What if I purchase a prototype early, but upgrades aren’t available until a later delivery date, what about software upgrades?
A: Any prototypes purchased will be compatible with future software releases, and for purchase, and retroactively applied. You will not in any way be penalized for buying a prototype. If you are unhappy with your prototype, I will be happy to exchange during a later release stage.
