The New York Subway System Becomes An Interactive String Instrument

Conductor: www.mta.me from Alexander Chen on Vimeo.

This clever animation turns the New York subway system into an interactive string instrument, using the MTA's actual subway schedule. The piece begins in realtime by spawning trains which departed in the last minute, then continues accelerating through a 24 hour loop. The visuals are based on Massimo Vignelli's 1972 diagram.

Imagine trying this on the London Underground, there would be long periods of silence, virtual strings snapping and general musical meltdown!