Blog Assignment: One Specific Question

It is hard to identify one specific question that I have about my group’s design because as a group we have decided to incorporate so many new ideas; although the idea our group has decided on that I question most is located on the left side of the screen. We have decided to break up the side bar into four ‘tabs’; directions, maps, hot spots, and extras. In my opinion, the first two ‘tabs’ are very self explanatory however the next two will take a little discovery. I also believe that the average user will not click on those tabs because they would like to use them for their specificly designed purpose but because they were interested in what exists in that tab. I also believe the last two tabs will yeild too much cross-over information. Through paper prototypes, I believe my concerns become addressed by the testees. It will become clear whether the ‘tabs’ will be used with their intended design, or even used at all.

The way I will know if those two tabs are effective can be determined a few ways. The first way would be if when asked to do a specific task, the testee were to click one tab for the others purpose. The second would be if when asked to do a specific task, the user completely ignored the sidebar tabs and went straight for the google search bar or other methods of search.

Only through paper prototypes will my question be answered.

Concept Feedback

Group C’s Feedback:

* Concept generation is not about feasibility / implementation; it’s about coming up with different solutions for the same problem. Feasibility is important, but at a later stage in the design process. So it’s completely ok to toss feasibility out of the window at this stage, since you are primarily focused on brainstorming at this stage.

* Wide variety of concepts (Awesome.)

* I dug the pen and paper sketches. I think pen and paper concepts allow people to be more creative during the brainstorming portion of the design framework.

* Comments: I thought many of the comments were insightful and helpful for the designer. I especially liked the comments that gave very specific suggestions to the designer or the comments that gave additional information about the concept.

Areas of improvement:

* Paper is super cheap. There are some concepts that would have benefited from a second sketch, to help clarify their concept.

* Some of the rationales were on the skimpy side. Design rationales are super important, and those of you that used the template generally had better / more robust arguments. (You know your reasoning very well, and the rationale is your chance to shine and show off that reasoning.)

Overall, nice job, keep up the good work.

This is a brief sketch of what I would like to see as a google interface.

The big differences here are that of the organization of the features on the left hand bar. all the main features are there and easily accessible for exploration and use. At the bottom of the features bar is a new features tab. It will alert the user whenever a new feature is created and accessible. I believe this will be useful because google often creates useful new things but dosn’t always tell us about them.

another new and interesting feature is that of the help pop up. This will be something like a tutorial for using the map features. simply click on some thing and the description of what you can do with it will pop up and inform you of its use.

Pukinsis P, R, I

Predispositions

1 Google maps is a map of the world

2 Google maps can be used to gain directions

Research

1 Interviews were conducted to gain an idea of the user experience of Google maps.

2 searches of scholarly articles were done to gain knowledge of prior research.

Insight

1 Many users are unaware of the many features of google maps

2 Many users are interested in the idea of colaberative map making

Blog Assignment: Pukinsis Set

Prerequisites

• A successful application today is one that can become mobile
• Google offers many applications, including Google Maps.

Research

• For mapping tehnologies, users want easy to use, accurate, and most importantly fun software.
• Users want to use widely known software

Insights

• I noticed that users were likely to go to Google Maps, and sometimes stay longer than they thought because they were entertained by the capabilities of ‘Street View’
• People are more likely to use the Map aspect of Google Maps opposed to the directions aspect.

Concepts

• Integrate mobile technology
• Easy interface that accentuates its many features; known and unknown
• Find more fun aspects which would draw users

Google Maps Pukinskis Set

Our task is to make the feature set of Google Maps more easily accessible and more user-friendly.

Prerequisites

• Google maps is a mapping system that has a specific feature set
• People want mapping systems that are efficient and easy to use

Research

• We conducted a survey that was administered to individuals to gain more information on our task and the likes/dislikes of users.
• We also researched scholarly articles to gain more information on our specific topic

Insights

• I found that while Google Maps is a popular online mapping option, it was typically not used for directions
• People are only familiar with the very known features like ’street view’, and are unfamiliar with the other additional feature sets
• People are more inclined to use websites with familiar interfaces that are easy to use and will use features that are obvious to the user

Concepts

• Make the features that are not currently obvious to the user more accessible and easy to use
• Google Maps should provide an interface that would encourage the use of their ‘directions’ feature. This is one of the reasons why they are lagging behind MapQuest in the specific area of the use of directions.

Pukinski’s Set

P1) Google maps is used to locate places.

P2) People use google maps for driving directions.

R1) In the interviews most people used Mapquest more frequently for driving directions than google maps.

because they are more familiar with it.

R2) Our interviews also showed that people were unaware of the many features that google maps has to offer.

I1) People stick to what they know and are hesitant towards change.

I2) Google maps has many useful features but they are not easily seen or used by new users.

C1) Google maps could simplify the process of obtaining driving directions and make the feature easier to find. A simple way to do this would be to add a tool bar or a tab specifically for driving directions.

C2) To solve the problem of users not being familiar with all of google maps features, the site would need to make some changes. First a more simplistic layout and more obvious ways of finding features perhaps a tool bar or pull down list. Also last week a feature of the day was suggested and would be a great way to increase awareness of google maps features.

Pukinsis Set for Google Maps

Predispositions:

• 1) Users want clear directions
• 2) Google Maps offers more for the users than Mapquest

Research:

• 1) We conducted interviews to see what website they use for directions, why they use them, and how often they use the site.
• 2)Made observations of people while using Google Maps
• 3)We also conducted a literature search on the internet of relevant works. I found that technology such as Google maps needs to be simple, straight forward, and easy to use.

Insights:

• I found that people that use Google Maps arent aware or dont attempt to use all of its features it offers
• People that use Google Maps use it to find places locally and use MapQuest for longer trips because that’s what they are use to using.

Concepts:

• Highlight features that could help the user and provide more information about what the features can do for them
• Provide a tutorial of the website for all the users, so they are more aware what is available to them through using Google Maps.

Pukinskis Set

Pukinskis Set

November 17, 2008 — Janelle

P1 – People like consistency.

P2 – When getting directions online, people want something straight-forward.

R1 – Our interview answers showed that a lot of people like Map Quest simply because it is something they are used to and because they know exactly what they will get from it.  The opposite was true for GoogleMaps.

R2 – Our group conducted interviews with many questions pertaining to how people like to get online directions and what type of interface works best for them.

I1 – Generally speaking, people do not like to see a lot of change because it is new, unfamiliar and puts them in a vulnerable position.

I2 – Getting directions is a very straight-forward process so when you actually go to get these directions online, you want your answers to be straight-forward as well.

C1 – GoogleMaps needs to be making some type of interface that is similar to MapQuest’s in order to convert MapQuest users to the GoogleMaps feature.  This would not necessarily convert everyone because some people are very anti-change but I think it would serve GoogleMaps well.

C2 – GoogleMaps could do a better job of displaying more obvious signs of the type of information they are looking for when typing in an address/getting directions/making a communal map/etc. so the user has a better idea of what exactly is being asked and what exactly is going to be given to them in return.

Pukinskis Set For Google Maps

P1 – People do not like to change.

P2 – Google Maps is functionally more efficient than Mapquest.

R1 – Interviews concerning use and preferences largely between Google Maps and Mapquest.

R2 – We each went in and surfed around Google Maps to get a better feel for what was and was not there for ourselves.

I1 – People stick to what they know even when it is more cluttered because it is easier to use as they have already taken the time and effort to learn it.

I2 – Google Maps is a very blank interface, very easy to use yet people are not drawn to it.

C1 – Google Maps could do with a simple overhaul that makes it initially very similar to Mapquest.  This is outright copying their style.  However, it is a stepping stone as most things that the people tend to latch onto are not drastically different and even alien to them but small stepping stones away from what they know and this allows a portal into a better interactive map.

C2 – Of course it would be viewed poorly but Google should just buy out Mapquest and be done with them when you consider P1 alone.

C3 – There is very little on the home page of Google Maps but the most obvious is a search.  This should be moved further and an entry for an address should be made more than obvious instead.  Even though simply putting in an address there works fine people shy away from it or might be intially confused.