MetroChange puts leftover MTA funds to some good use
23 December, 2011
category: Contactless, Transit
Every year millions of dollars worth of value on MTA MetroCards is either lost or discarded. A group of students from New York University’s Interactive Communications Program have devised a platform that takes this remaining value and put it to some good use.
Reported by gothamist, MetroChange takes unusable, leftover money before cards are discarded and donates it to charity. Users simply swipe their MetroCard, confirm the amount and press the button. The value is then sent to a central fund, each month donated to charity.
The kiosk developed, by NYU students, comprises Arduino platform, Ethernet shield, LCD screen, IR transmitter and receiver, and magnetic-stripe card reader. A recycle, waste basket also allows contributors to deposit their plastic MetroCard for recycling.
The physical card would be taken for recycling, and the money on it would go to charity.
MetroChange from Genevieve Hoffman on Vimeo.
Read more here.