Winning App Gives Good ‘Carma’ in OnStar Challenge

July 26, 2012 3:03 pm ET

An app for crowd-sourced transportation that lets the driver of an OnStar-equipped vehicle accept ride sharing requests from otherwise stranded students won OnStar’s second Student Developer Challenge at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

M.I.T. students were challenged in May to create the next cool voice-based app. The challenge to use OnStar’s Application Program Interface, or API, was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January

The app, called Carma, could reduce the number of pleas for rides posted in college residence halls. It allows drivers to connect with those in need of a ride through a website where they can share their routes in hopes finding someone to ride along. Those without transportation are able to submit ride requests that an OnStar driver can accept or decline.

“By leveraging both the data and the interface provided by the OnStar platform, our small application takes a very large step towards solving a real social and environmental problem,” said Max Kolysh, one of three students on the winning team. “The communities that use the app are taking a step to reduce the social and environmental impact of automobiles.”

For more information on Carma click HERE.