Wall writings and Graffiti have always been a way for citizens to interact with each other and the city and demonstrate their dissatisfaction or connect to each other through visual expressions. The goal of this project was to search for digital interactions to connect people to the town and make them feel a stronger connection with their city and public spaces. The goal should be accomplished by designing an experience that uses a digital feature.

Public transport users have a fair amount of “wasted” time while waiting for their transportation to arrive. This valuable time is normally underused by mindless scrolling on mobile phones. In this project, I intend to design an installable object to be used in public stations. The device will help create a connection between the city and its citizens.

The goal of this project is to come up with a way to use an interactive digital medium to provide users of the public transport system with something to engage with while waiting for the public transport to arrive. The device would be placed on public stations, offering the users the opportunity to partake in activities while optimising waiting time. 

Digital natives familiarized with digital interfaces and open to exploring new ways to engage with digital mediums. 

1. The Entertainment Shelter - While waiting for transport to arrive or the weather to improve, users could make use of a collective shelter where a variety of interactive entertainment options, such as games, the latest news, music and so on, would be available for selection. They would be able to choose between individual or collective activities, giving them the opportunity to get involved with each other or simply have something interesting to do besides using their mobile phone.

2. The phone/help desk booth -  Especially in the case of the lack of data or power on a mobile phone, the users would have the option to use a phone booth installed in the stations, as a help desk. They would be able to request for answers to questions, such as ‘the best route to reach a destination’, ‘how much would cost to go from A to B’, or even ‘the weather forecast’. Getting information on what they would normally use their phone for. The same device could also be used to make ‘old fashion’ phone calls, helping to promote the feeling of safety and autonomy.

3. Voting checkpoints - While the users wait for their transport to arrive, they could make use of the time to check on open city projects and vote for those they find relevant and/or suggest projects they would like to see developed by their local municipality.

HMW motivate public transport users to feel connected with their town by designing an experience that uses a digital feature?

One important way in which citizens can connect with the city is through the perception they are an important member of it. This can be accomplished when they are provided with tools to engage with the town. 

One way this could be done is by using digital totems in public stations. Thus offering them the possibility to give input on the city’s projects via voting or suggesting projects. Achieving then, the feeling of belonging.

Considering the widespread use of interactive totems in various spaces, I believe it would be feasible and viable to install and use this medium in public stations. Even when taking into account the need for wifi signal, the process of voting using a totem would still be relatively simple and low-cost. 

I trust that most citizens would find the chance to participate in their city’s development while in the station a good way to optimise their waiting time there. As it would allow them to feel they contributed to it in a positive way, without having to expend extra time to do so on a different occasion.