{"id":5454,"date":"2018-08-22T09:59:17","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T14:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yrrtc.ca\/?p=5454"},"modified":"2018-08-22T09:59:17","modified_gmt":"2018-08-22T14:59:17","slug":"visions-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yrrtc.ca\/blog\/2018\/08\/22\/visions-of-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"visions of the future"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Blogpost by: Sara Grilli<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cellphones, television and public transit all have something in common \u2013 innovation.\u00a0 At the time of their initial release, they each took a simple task [i.e., communication, entertainment and travel] and turned it into something easier and more accessible.\u00a0 As time marched forward, each has continued to innovate.\u00a0 Cellphones are now smartphones, televisions became \u201csmart\u201d and our favourite shows can be streamed.\u00a0 Transit has also changed, from basic buses to GPS-tracked high-capacity vehicles with payment by smartphone and WIFI at terminals.<\/p>\n

For several years, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation has hired summer students in various fields of work such as engineering, communications, finance, etc.\u00a0 As part of their summer experience and learning, we assigned a group project to the students.\u00a0 This year, the guidelines were purposely vague.\u00a0 We asked our 16 students to imagine what the future would look like.\u00a0 This task was not to focus only on transit, but big picture ideas as well \u2013 such as environmental, social\/health benefits and community engagement.\u00a0 They were to brainstorm, research, and then present their ideas to their colleagues and managers.\u00a0 Here are a few amazing ideas they brought forward:<\/p>\n