Park Walk - Testing

User Case Scenarios Testing

Scenario One:

This is the scenario as designed and tested in High Park and later Grange Park.
Users enter the experience equipped with a GPS enabled cell phone. Predetermined GPS coordinates (in theory 10-14, however, in practice 4 points) were established for this test. The users were required to go through a number of steps to start and run the applications software.*

Once activated, the user started the Park Walk experience by moving toward the first coordinate. The application was designed to firstly, activate and display a map of the local area, followed by the phone vibrating and playing a
bird sound.

The experience concluded with the phone displaying a photo of the local area / GPS coordinate.

The test was unsuccessful. The major problem with the application seems to center around the apparent movement, defined as 'drift' of the GPS coordinates. The coordinates were unstable if detectible at all.

More testing of this application is required over the next few weeks. We should be looking at the stability of the GPS coordinates over time as well as the usability of the application and its robustness by the user and its sensitivity to interference by ambient conditions such as weather, etc. We should be testing sensitivity at 10/20/30 meters for GPS detection.(TEST)

We should also be looking at testing the use of an aerial to increase the reliability and sensitivity of the GPS unit. (TEST)

Improvements to Scenario One:

Running the Application:

To start the applications software is difficult and overly complicated in my mind. I would like to simplify the applications startup. Either reduce the number of steps or design the user interface to be more user friendly in guiding the user into the experience. I would also like to investigate the possibility of the application starting automatically as soon as you enter the experience as long as the phone and GPS are turned on. Could the application startup be embedded in the first GPS coordinate?

Mapping:

The map that was designed for the test was adequate as a graphic, but very difficult to read depending on the ambient light levels.

We should look at the design of the graphic interface and explore color, contrast and scale in order to maximize readability. (TEST)

I would like to see the application start with an overall context map, perhaps even a global location being identified firstly and moving to more micro level and specific maps as the user moves further into the experience. Maps would become more site specific as we move into the area or the hot spot. This is dependent on the sensitivity of the GPS coordinates. ( Think of a series of concentric rings that we pass through ) (TEST)

I was also thinking that the specific points of interest, rather than be shown as a fixed and visible number on each map might be found by scrolling over the map with joystick. This would increase the user experience associated with exploration. It would become more interactive to actually search the map for a specific location. (see Mobile Bristo) (TEST)

Each site specific location would be loaded with specific information on that location or refer you on to explore the next related location. The information could be text, sound or video. (TEST)

So far the information in the experience is in the �push mode� with the information being pushed toward the user. With site specific information, the user should be able to pull information out of the experience that they are specifically interested in. This becomes a choice based on interest or curiosity and could be accessible through a menu associated with specific points. This information may be preloaded onto the interface or GPS activated. (TEST)

Sound

If sound is used we need to look at headphones or ear jack to enhance the audible experience. ( TEST )

User Take Aways.
Artifacts (virtual) / Archiving / Contributing

The user should be able to take photographs, record sounds, tell stories and or contribute to the overall database for the experience. The information could be personal, family album or shared between all users and possibly contribute to the shaping of the experience over time for all users.

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