Healthy Team Milestone 3

The Application:

Active: Hiking Safely is an application for mapping and sharing information about trails. Users can plan a route, get directions, see their current location, post reviews of trails and report issues. During the first phase of the project, we identified the problem and our core users based on survey feedback. During the second phase of the project, we created designs that are both aesthetically appealing and easy to use whether they are at home planning for their hike ahead of time or already outdoors. Using this information, we are trying to create a prototype with limited functionality using one of the designs from the previous phase.

Page Types include:

Narrative of Application:

When users first open the application, they are shown the main map screen. They are not immediately brought to a login page because some users may choose to use the app anonymously. There is a menu on the bottom of the screen that includes options for the layer of the map (like standard, terrain, or satellite), reporting a hazard, recording a route, navigating, and searching. On the bottom right of the screen, there is a plus and minus for zooming out, as well as a current location button. Users can use those buttons to zoom in or out, or can do that by moving with their fingers.

        

Main Map Screen                        Record a Route

To record a route, the user presses the “record” button. A menu will open above the button giving the user the option to “pause”, “start”, and “stop”. When the user presses start, the app will begin recording the path of the user as they hike. If pause is pressed, the recording will pause but can later be restarted. If stop is pressed, the app will stop recording the route, and it will be saved.

To change the layer, the user presses the layer button. Another menu pops up above the button with options for Standard, Terrain, and Satellite. The user can from there select the option they wish to change the map to.

                

                Navigation                Changing Layers                        Search

To navigate, the user will press the navigation button, and a menu will pop up above the button. The user can type in the start location and the destination. Once they press search, directions to the destination will be computed and displayed to the user. The search function operates very similarly to this.

        

                        Report Options                        Obstruction Form

For reporting, the user can press the Report button on the bottom menu. A new page will be displayed with options for reporting an Obstruction, a Detour, Trail Conditions, a Point of Interest, or a Trail Review. There is a small description below each option so that the user knows exactly what each object entails. Once the user selects an option, they are brought to the appropriate reporting form so that they can complete their request. Upon completion, the user is brought back to the main screen (Map).


Evaluation:

Usability Specification:

Overview of Testing:

  1. Facilitator introduces project to user
  1. Define the purpose of the project
  2. How participant will contribute to project
  3. Explain that the application is not fully functional yet
  4. Get permission to record the session. If not, that’s okay, still conduct session.
  1. Conduct pre-interview. Sample questions include:
  1. How familiar are you with navigation applications?
  2. What other hiking applications do you use?
  3. Have you ever planned out a hiking trail?
  1. Observe the participant as they use the application and ask them to complete benchmark tasks:
  1. Search for an address: Users can type in an address or search for an area, the application will find the address and display it on the map
  2. Provide Directions: Once a user finds an address, the application can give directions to this spot
  3. Report a Hazard: The user can add a warning widget to the map that includes a description of the problem they encountered and a picture.
  4. Post a Review/Picture: Similar to reporting a hazard, users can add a review to a spot on a trail, or just post a picture.
  5. Change the overlay: Switch from the regular map appearance to a satellite map.
  6. Record a Route: Users can actively record the path they walk with the device.
    NOTE: Make sure to watch the participant as they use the system. See what frustrates them and take note when they react well.
  1. Conduct post-interview. Sample questions include:
  1. What was something about our app that you liked?
  2. What is something that you disliked?
  3. Is there anything you would change?
  4. Is there anything you would keep the same?
  5. Is there something that other hiking apps offer that this one doesn’t, but you think should?
  6. How difficult was it to get directions?
  7. What could have been easier?
  8. Did you have any trouble figuring out a function?
  9. Was there anything on the application that took too much time or effort to find?
  10. Was the color scheme enjoyable and distinguished?
  11. How can the design be improved?
  1. Thank the participant

Tasks to prepare for testing: