Real-Time Train Malfunctions in Your City Depicted Through Stunning Wall Art
New Infrastructure Art Piece, the Metroboard, Set to Launch in September
The design company, Metroboard, is preparing to launch an innovative light-up infrastructure infographic named the Metroboard in September. This unique piece, created by a small team of Los Angeles-based artists, will illuminate various lines and stations along the traditional subway maps of several major U.S. cities.
The Metroboard creates its own WiFi network, similar to the landing pages when signing into Starbucks or airport WiFi, allowing it to connect to real-time information from various cities' transit authorities. The device incorporates onboard train equipment and infrastructure on tracks, though accuracy may vary from agency to agency.
The Metroboard is available in two sizes: 11x11 inches for smaller transit areas and 11x16 inches for New York and Chicago in a landscape format. It boasts a walnut frame with an all-aluminum face and holes to mount the various LED lights. Powered by a single USB-C cable, the Metroboard requires a home depot internet connection to function.
Preorders for the Metroboard are priced at $189, but will retail for $229 after launch. Those who set a $3 reservation will receive $80 off their first order. Once connected to home depot WiFi, the Metroboard operates in a rather hands-off design, allowing users to control whether the LEDs show in color or plain white, set the lights' brightness, and choose whether to see trains in transit or only at the station.
Artists Kirill Safin and Emily Perkins head up the design team, who were inspired by a cross-country train trip where they rode the subway systems of the six cities on offer. Their design concept aims to show these cities as a 'truly live organism,' where each light represents the tens or hundreds of thousands of commuters using the subway daily.
The company that developed and produces the Metroboard is Metroboard. The team has expressed interest in expanding to non-U.S. train systems, such as London's tube and Tokyo's metro system. They have confirmed that they are receiving information from respective municipal transit agencies.
In the unpredictable nature of the New York City subway system, the Metroboard's lights may indicate when morning commutes are affected, serving as a potential solution for travelers. The Metroboard has been tested using a WiFi hotspot, and it accurately showed the exact train moving in some instances.
The Metroboard is set to be a captivating addition to any home depot or office, combining art and functionality in a unique and informative way.
