GW Grads “Master the Metro” With New App

New app helps save time and stress

Two George Washington University graduates say they have “mastered the Metro” with their release of a new iPhone application that tells you which Metro train to catch, where to stand and more.

David Glidden and Andrew Thal spent hours riding the WMATA Metrorail system to do research for their “Metro Master” app—designed to save riders both time and stress.

“I was standing with a few of my friends on a Metro platform when one of them said that there were two things to know about the Metro: which train to catch and where to stand on the platform so you get off right at the escalator when you get out,” Glidden said in an e-mail.

He and Thal spent four months and more than 30 hours riding the Metro, collecting over 1,000 data points to help riders find the perfect place to stand and which train to ride.

“For riders, it facilitates a better Metro trip through unique features that aren't available on other apps such as the heat maps, optimal exit indicators, and trivia,” Glidden said.

The new application is available for purchase in the iTunes store for $2.99 and Glidden said he is happy with user response so far.

“We are very pleased with such a positive response we've seen so far, both by users of the app as well as the press,” Glidden said. “At this point we want to reach as many riders as possible so that they can enjoy a more comfortable Metro experience.”

The duo hopes to create more applications under their own company name—“Optipotamus LLC”, which they said is a nod to their alma mater.

“Our company is named Optipotamus because of GW's alternate mascot of a hippo and because of our desire to make things that optimize people's lives.”

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