London Trialling E-Paper Real-Time Bus Timetables

Waiting for a bus can be an infuriating experience due to the tiny text and confusing route guides. Additionally, it’s fairly common for buses to be delayed and cause commuters a great deal of distress. On another note, the plastic covers are usually cracked, and doesn’t encourage people to use public transport on a regular basis. However, the BBC has displayed what could be the future of bus timetables! What this might not seem the most exciting announcement, it’s interesting from a technological point-of-view. Instead of relying on paper, the new system will use E-paper to display ETAs in real-time and other essential sources of travel information. 

It’s also extremely useful for individuals with poor eyesight, as the information is displayed via large, readable text and there’s even a button to illuminate the screen. This display type has been used on the Amazon Kindle and designed to be readable in bright sunlight as well as dimly lit areas. Obviously, this is only a trial and any sort widespread roll-out is bound to cost a huge amount of money. As a result, don’t expect to see e-paper timetables any time soon.