In future scenarios of public transportation, the bus stop can be more than the simple place where passengers and buses connect. With appropriate uses of information technology, the bus stop can serve as landmark and community rallying point, adopting new versions of the roles traditionally played by a cultural center or town square. The MIT Mobile Experience Lab developed a prototype of this new vision of the bus stop.

The Interactive Bus Stop addresses both travelers and pedestrians through different display channels. A touch-sensitive screen gives access to transportation information and customer service for travelers. A low-resolution live-ticker provides real-time traffic information. A forum-like application for user-generated content makes the bus stop a dynamic point of information, fostering communication and interaction in its neighborhood. With a Graphical User Interface inspired by the metaphor of a garden whose plants grow and react depending on the condition of its environment, the LED facade of the bus stop displays ambient information such as pollution and social interactions such as new posts on the forum.

Based on the preceding Smart Mobility workshop and explorations in the field of parametric CAD/CAM architecture, the bus stop structure was designed as a parametric model. This approach allows the design of a product family of bus stops with an algorithm that makes it possible to generate iterations that ideally suit a specific location. Whether the needs call for small units, entire bus stations, stops on a slope or specific display configurations, the parametric approach allows for flexibility in design.