Derivative Works

CTA Alerts

  • You Never Know Where Quality Information Will Come From

    This is an object lesson for those trying to wrest meaning from short messages published to the Internet. This Twitter user, @ForeverKimK, runs a Kim Kardashian fansite: foreverkimk.tumblr.com/. The user also posted a timely (7:12PM on Dec 26, 2011) photo indicating that there was trouble on the Red Line tonight. The CTA posted a mild…

  • Compare and Contrast: A Moment in Time on CTA-Focused Twitter Accounts

    Here’s the most recent tweet from @cta, the official Twitter account of the Chicago Transit Authority, posted seven hours ago: $1B investment to upgrade stations & infrastructure for Red Line just announced by @GovernorQuinn @ChicagosMayor & @cta Pres. Claypool Here’s the most recent tweet from @ctatweet, the unofficial Twitter account of the Chicago Transit Authority,…

  • Guest Post on CTA Tattler: Full CTA Train Tracker Beta Review

    Here's a live-screenshot-laden review I made while I was testing the CTA Train Tracker over the last few weeks. Here's my favorite shot: Took me for freaking ever to get that shot.  

  • Some Thoughts on Human Editing of a Breaking News Event using Twitter

    11:38 — got a mention to @ctatweet– “red line trains are being redirected above ground due to an equipment failure..” Checked the CTA Web site, there was no mention of it, I retweeted it right about by 11:41. 11:42 — got an email from info@goroo.com: Red Line subway trains are rerouted to the elevated tracks…

  • Toward a Better CTA Tweet

    Guest post by Dan O’Neil. In September of last year I launched CTA Tweet along with Harper Reed. When I wrote about the system on the CTA Tattler, I warned that it might be lame. That lameness definitely came to pass, and over the last few weeks I’ve made some changes that I think make…