GO Transit, the Ontario-government-run regional transit network in the GTA, launched a new mobile application,
GO Mobile, on Nov. 10.
The application for iPhones, Blackberrys and Android-enabled smartphones allows riders to view schedules, receive alerts and personalize information. In a
release announcing the application, GO VP Mary Proc said the initiative should enhance customer service.
"We're very excited to offer our passengers the ability to access GO schedule information right in the palm of their hands," stated Proc.
Behind the scenes, the application represents a significant achievement not just for the transit service, but for
Ryerson University's Digital Media Zone (DMZ), an 18-month-old innovation and business incubator at the downtown University. Six Ryerson students and one recent graduate collaborated to build the application for GO.
School representatives say this represents an evolution in the university classroom experience, with students getting hands-on, real-life experience dealing with projects for real-world clients. Stephen Johns, a computer-science grad who worked on the project said in
a statement, "GO Transit was an ideal partner for our group as they were committed to experiential learning and developing a great, knowledge-based transit application."
Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Michael Forbes, Ryerson Digital Media Zone; Vanessa Thomas, GO Transit