​​MBTA e-Ink Pilot
​​E Ink Pilot by the T
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​​No realtime info on B/C/E stations b/c no power
  • ​​Same for Lots of bus stops
  • ​​Funding available through Green Line signage grant.
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​​Does solar work in the winter?
  • ​​Hasn’t really been tested in a boston winter
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​​What vendors supply these signs? (Papercast is one)
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​​Pilot Steps
​​Learn
  • ​​Customer Research
  • ​​Peer agency experience
  • ​​Industry & Vendor
​​Execute
  • ​​Procurement and UI
  • ​​Protocol for sign install
​​Install & Monitor - Installed in Oct - Dec
  • ​​Monitor through winter
  • ​​Report on results
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​​Why e-Ink?
  • ​​Evolving tech, no wiring needed, no power needed to maintain display.
  • ​​Ideal viewing angles almost 180 degree viewing angle.
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​​Things to Know
  • ​​Battery Impactors
  • ​​Signal strength - Cell or wifi affects when searching
  • ​​Screen Size and content - bigger means more power needed
  • ​​Temperature - Colder means battery has less capacity than when warmer, super hot can damage.
  • ​​Refresh rate - how often changing them affects how long.
  • ​​Self discharge - batteries lose capacity over time.
  • ​​Cellular Signal - Cell signal needs to be reliable, otherwise could be inaccurate info.
  • ​​Content Management System -  Many signs have systems to configure all the above issues, other things like:
  • ​​If too low power show image.
  • ​​CMS needs features to report things and configure them.
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​​Batteries are normally behind displays or underneath solar panels.
​​Most displays are 13”, some are 32” in portrait.
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​​Design
​​UI design
  • ​​show:
  • ​​Station name
  • ​​Time
  • ​​Next 3 train arrival times
  • ​​Service alerts