Discuss “Tracking through talking:”

Students can now plan trips around the area more easily, thanks to the development of a new interactive voice-response phone system by three Carnegie Mellon alumni.

Lawrence Lee and Amit Agarwal, who both received bachelor’s degrees in computer science, and Vishal Chordia, who received a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, recently developed a phone system that provides updated schedules for buses destined for Squirrel Hill, Oakland, and Carnegie Mellon’s campus.

By calling 1-866-MyCMUBus, a person can speak with an automated operator. The operator first asks about the person’s current location and gives the option of saying “Carnegie Mellon,” “Oakland,” or “Squirrel Hill.” The operator then asks for...