Connected commuting and the rise of transport-related social apps
Connected commuting apps are a great way to ease the burden of driving or commuting amid varied traffic situations. Connected commuters feel happier and more relaxed.
Among the surest things in life, aside from death and taxes, is traffic — at least from the point of view of the millions who drive and take the public transport to work or to meetings every day. This is perhaps one of the reasons why transport-related startups are popular. We earlier featured a couple of startups in the Philippines, particularly MRTtrackr and Tripid, both of which have their respective target users.
Connected commutingアプリは運転や通勤など様々な状況で発生する負担を軽減してくれる。アプリユーザーは気分良く、リラックスして通勤できるようになる。
死と税金は別として、交通とは人生と切っても切り離せないものである。少なくとも毎日通勤や会議のために車を運転したり交通機関を利用したりする数百万人の人々にとっては。おそらくこれが交通関連スタートアップが人気を博している理由のひとつだろう。以前、それぞれ異なるターゲットユーザーを抱えるフィリピンのMRTtrackrとTripidなどのスタートアップについて記事で取り上げた。
ネットに接続された状態で通勤するためのアプリを利用すると、様々な交通状況下での運転や通勤の負担を大きく軽減することができる。ネットに接続された通勤者たちはより満足感を味わい、よりリラックスした状態となる。
人生における最も確かなことの中には、死と税金を別にすると、交通というものを挙げることができる。少なくとも毎日、仕事やミーティングに車や公共の交通機関を利用している数百万人もの見地からすると、交通は人生において不可避であると言えるだろう。おそらく、これが交通に関連する事業に取り組むスタートアップが人気を集める理由の1つだ。我々は以前、フィリピンのスタートアップをいくつか取り上げた。特にMRTtrackrとTripidは両社ともにターゲットとなるユーザーをそれぞれ持っている。
In gist, MRTtrackr aims to make commuting via Metro Manila’s light rail transits easier by giving information on congestion and queue times. Tripid, meanwhile, is a dynamic carpooling application that aims to reduce carbon consumption by encouraging carpooling — drivers can even earn extra for gas money in exchange for their taking in riders.
Doing a search on our archives, we find that there are many other transport-related startups that have seen success or promise in the region, such as GoMyWay, TaxiMonger, Split-it!, App-a-cab and even the Singapore LTA’s own mobile app. There’s something about the daily commute that needs addressing, and enterprising developers are finding ways to ease the pain for drivers and commuters.
A recent Fast Company Co.Exist article cites a study by the New Cities Foundation, which highlights how connected commuting can help keep stress levels down. The California study involved more than 100,000 users of crowdsourced traffic and navigation app Waze. New Cities found that the app provided a sense of community among members. A sentiment analysis of conversations made via the “chit chat” feature indicated that most were positive comments.
There is also a disparity between drivers and commuters. Folks who drive prefer the connected nature of the app, because it’s a good way to overcome the sense of loneliness when driving alone. Meanwhile, commuters who take public transportation tend to have a sense of community within their rides — train, bus or other mode of transport — and don’t want insight from other commuters as much as solo drivers do.
The study even goes on to make recommendations on further research, in particular on the impact of these mobile apps on savings, in terms of fuel and time, and especially the environmental impact, given the reduced travel times and emissions.
この調査は続けて、特にこれらモバイルアプリが燃料や時間の節約にどの程度影響するのかについて、そしてこれらアプリの利用によって移動時間と排出される環境汚染物質が減ることを考慮に入れ、環境にどのような効果をもたらすかについて、さらなる研究を進めるよう勧めてもいる。
I discovered Waze when my iPhone got updated to iOS 6. I found the new Apple Maps app to be quite disappointing, and so I had to hunt for a better alternative for finding places and routes. Even now that Google has released its new Google Maps app for the iPhone, I prefer the connectedness of Waze, and the way it calculates and re-calculates your routes depending on how other users’ mobile devices are reporting the traffic situation.
Other users’ traffic status submissions and tips are very useful. While stuck in traffic, I also find that the chatter does reduce stress. (Of course, one only uses the chat feature while riding as a passenger or when the car is actually stalled in traffic, and not while driving.)
This can perhaps be a call for app developers and startup founders. Build apps that can either help ease the traffic, or apps that help make the commute easier. You’re not only helping reduce stress for commuters. You’re also helping save the world by reducing fossil fuel consumption.
これはおそらくアプリ開発者やスタートアップの創業者を呼び込むものでもあり得る。道路の利用をもっと楽なものにするアプリや、通勤をより容易なものとするのを助けるアプリを作ろう。それはたんに通勤者のストレスを減らす手伝いをするだけにとどまらない。化石燃料の消費量を減らすことで、世界を救う助けにもなるのだ。
