This visual journalism project illuminates the deployment of a new robot by the NYPD in the Times Square subway station. Utilizing a scroll interaction combined with 3D graphics on a webpage, the project delves into the implications surrounding this robotic presence. As a creative developer, my responsibility is to ensure that the visuals harmonize with the article content and offer a seamless interactive experience as users scroll through the webpage.

Team members:

Me — Developer & Visual Designer Athena Zhou — Researcher & Developer Mathew Olson — Journalist & 3D Modelling

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESEARCH

The initial research for this project was sparked by the NYT article 400-Pound N.Y.P.D. Robot Gets Tryout in Times Square Subway Station. As students of interactive design and residents of NYC, we were intrigued yet skeptical about the innovative technology the NYPD chose to implement. To delve deeper, we conducted extensive research on the robot's specifications and the purpose behind the NYPD's decision.

Initial research linking to Athena’s notion page detailing our main questions:

https://athenazhou.notion.site/Research-3f8c59c1f9c34227862c697e8ded47ad

• What commonly occurring problems or crimes in the subway is it actually meant to address?
• How is the robot’s role as a deterrent intended? What about as an enforcement tool?
• How will the robot interact with (i.e. drive near/past/around) people just waiting for their next train?
• What’s the actual potential for cost savings in using these robots, or does this just expand NYPD expenditures?
• What would happen if the NYC gov tried to replace officers assigned to monitor subway stations with these robots–how would the police unions respond?

STORYBOARD

After compiling some foundational information, we went into the process of storyboarding and identifying the key elements we wished to emphasize in our article. We distilled our findings into three primary focal points: