A Swedish company called Stockholmståg has developed an exciting new algorithm that could possibly change the lives of subway commuters around the world.
Let's be clearer-- change lives around the world for the better.
Stockholmståg is basically the MTA of Stockholm, and, according to Gizmodo, their killer mathematicians have developed an algorithm that can predict subway delays hours before they happen.
Modern subway tracking technology supplies Stockholmståg with tons of data, allowing them to give an accurate ETA for each stop along the line, similar to our notoriously horrid L train.
You know the announcements: "Ladies and gentlemen, the next Rockaway Parkway-bound L train will depart in approximately 7 minutes."
Now, imagine if that arrival time data could be harnessed, in conjunction with updates regarding construction, accidents, or any other such delay, to effectively predict when and how each commuter train line will be effected, and the ripples of those effects throughout the system.
That's essentially how Stockholmståg is gearing up to change the subway game forever. Maybe we're not so far away from knowing when every train is going to arrive, and not just some estimate barring any of a multitude of things that could go wrong.
Imagine all of this data working together to bring subway travelers up to date and accurate ETA's and delay info. It would be like being able to check the subway forecast just like the weather.
We're into this. We actually couldn't be more about this. We need this, like, yesterday, on every subway line in New York City and indeed every other city with subways.
It is yet to be seen how the new algorithm will be integrated into Stockholmståg's systems, or how it can be adapted to other cities' infrastructures, but we're hoping they put the pedal to the metal with developing and proliferating usage of this exciting new math.
Imagine that-- exciting math.
Wow, Sweden. We never thought we'd use that phrase and thanks to you, now we have. So, how's about that algorithm now?
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