Monday, April 8, 2013

Confused about public transit? Now there’s an app for that!



Webnotes by: Theresa Payton, Fortalice, LLC. Content also covered on WBTV's "Protecting Your Cyberturf" segment featuring Theresa Payton and Kristen Miranda.
 
Some good news for our viewers headed to cities with public transit - Google has added a new transit alert service to help you manage your commute whether for fun or work!  It’s easy to get to through Google Maps.  Unfortunately, even though you can get transit information on 800 cities around the world, you can only get these transit alerts (for now) for the rail lines in DC and NYC and bus lines in Salt Lake City...but they are inviting city transit managers to apply…maybe Charlotte can ask to be added?

FEATURES:
Google already helps out travelers with tips on fares, walking directions, and estimated travel time but these new features are a huge help!  They recently added a lot more cities around the globe that they support.

This new service provides:
Real time service alerts
It will help you map out the best route to take
It will warn you about construction or anything that might delay the train
They take their alerts directly from the public transit’s alert system

Although Google can give you transit information for 800 cities around the globe, including Paris, the transit alert system is not available everywhere.  Transit alerts are available for the rail lines in  DC and NYC, and the bus lines for Salt Lake City.

Stay tuned because they plan to add the transit alerts to many of the cities they provide information for today!

You can get the transit alert on Android or Apple phones

WORD OF THE WEEK:
PILLBOXIE:  Do you need to take a lot of supplements or medications?  Well, there’s an app for that!  The Pillboxie app lets you visually manage your pills in an online pillbox.  Drop the pill in and take it out and you make sure you never double up or forget to take a pill.

WEB RESOURCES:
Try this cool feature out at your house to test it out at:

Google company blog post about transit alerts:





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