Title: MTA AR-Based Navigation App
Description:
For my midterm project I focused on Augmented Reality technologies. So, for my final, I thought I would create a tech solution that uses AR technology to help people with audio and visual impairments.
The NYC subway system is hard to navigate for everyone, but especially those with impairments. So, for my solution, I want to create an AR navigation app that allows users to get directions to the nearest ADA accessible elevators, directions within the subway, as well as a feature that connects to the subway’s announcement system. All of these features and more will be created to help users navigate the subway system better. These features will be a part of the current MTA app. This flowchart below will show the flow of information in the app as well as all the steps the user will need to go through to use the app. It will show the stakeholders, prompts the app will ask the user, while also highlighting different features the app has.
Video Presentation
Flowchart linked below in PDF format, for easier viewing.
How it works: On the MTA Navigation App, users will be able to select the accessibility feature to access the AR navigation. When they click it, the app will ask them where they want to go and then a camera will open and ask the users if they want to share their location. If the users click yes, the camera will use the location that the user is at to create a map of how to get to the nearest subway stop with an elevator. It will create an AR path with arrows that show up as you walk leading you to the elevator. It will also note how long it will take to get there (in minutes) and how far away it is (in feet or miles depending on how far you are). There will also be an audio function for users with visual impairments that will talk to the users about how many steps and what directions they have to turn at to get there. When they get to the elevator, the app will connect to the MTA Wifi and the users phone will vibrate to notify the user that they have arrived at the elevator. Furthermore, it will show the users, using the same AR technology, where they should go in the station to get to the train that will take them to where they want to go. Moreover, another problem is that the subway’s announcement system is really hard to understand. So, when the user gets on a train, the app will ask them if they want to connect to the announcement system, this will allow users to get notifications of what the conductor is saying on the announcement system so they know what is happening and what the next stops are. Once the train gets to the user’s stop, the app will tell the user to get off and it will vibrate as well to notify them. Then, the app will guide them to the nearest exit in the station. The outcome of this tech solution is to help people with visual and audio impairments navigate the subway system more efficiently and safely.
Annotated Bibliography
Lupton, Ellen, and Andrea Lipps. The Senses: Design Beyond Vision. Princeton Architectural Press, 2018.
This book discussed a lot about how to create accessible service design. It talked about sensory reach which is basically how those with audio impairments use their senses of hearing, seeing, smelling, and feeling to orient themselves. It discussed how when you design for those with audio impairments you should utilize vibratory, tactile, and, social cues to help them create a sense of 360-degree sensory reach that is usually given by sound. This helped me decide what aspects I needed to include in my technology that would help users with audio impairments use the subway. It also talked about the dos and don’ts for designing for users who are deaf, those who use screen readers, and those with low vision. For designing for users with low vision, it talked about using a combination of contrasting colors and a multitude of color, shapes, and texts, all while creating a linear logical layout. For designing for users with audio impairments it said to write in clear language and to break up content and images with subheadings to communicate a clear layout. All of this information has helped me figure out what features are need in the AR app to help users navigate the subway better and how all the information should be laid out.
McMahon, Don D., et al. “Effects of Digital Navigation Aids on Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Comparison of Paper Map, Google Maps, and Augmented Reality.” Journal of Special Education Technology, vol. 30, no. 3, Sept. 2015, pp. 157–165, doi:10.1177/0162643415618927.
This journal article was helpful in determining what aspects of navigation my solution needed to have. The article discussed a study in which college students (aged 18-24 years old) with intellectual disabilities were given different forms of navigation tools such as a paper map, google maps, and augmented reality. The purpose of the study was to see which navigation aid was most effective in helping students with disabilities navigate their surroundings. The study found that the Augmented Reality navigation app was the most effective tool. The AR app they used had a small map in the corner and as the user moved the phone around, the screen would show which way they needed to go and how far. I also noticed that the app used black and white arrows in the study. I used this study to help me figure out what should be included in the AR app and whether it should be a line on the ground or big arrows pointing to the way you need to go. It also helped me determine what colors would be most effective in showing the navigation. Furthermore, it showed me that the AR app was the most effective because it gave users real-time prompts and allowed users to blend the real world with the directions which were more helpful than trying to figure out google maps.
Peleg-Adler, Rinat., et al. “The effects of aging on the use of handheld augmented reality in a route planning task.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 81, 2018, pp 52-62, ISSN 0747-5632, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.12.003
This journal article discussed how two different age groups (teens and adults aged 50+) reacted to AR technologies while trying to plan a route using public transportation. The study found that both age groups completed the task faster using the AR technology. Furthermore, they found that the AR interface was intuitive and easily adaptable as both generations figured out how to use it without a tutorial. Lastly, it found that the AR technology had a better user experience for the older generation compared to the younger participants. I wanted my technology solution to be accessible for both younger and older adults who have impairments. This study helped me understand why AR technology is helpful and who it is helpful for. It also made me realize that older adults like having a cleaner interface that shows them exactly what they need to know right away which helped me determine what information was the most relevant to my app. Furthermore, the study showed how AR technologies can be used in relation to public transportation and how the two different generations reacted to AR navigation. Overall, this article was helpful in determining which features were preferred by the younger generation and which features were preferred by the older generation.
Pierce, David. “A First Look at Google Maps’ AR Future” YouTube, uploaded by Wall Street Journal, 12 Feb. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW1QT7DOOdA.
This video discussed Google Maps AR technology. The video provided a tutorial for how to use the app, discussed its features, as well as talked about other apps that also use AR-based navigation. The video helped show what the interface of an AR navigation system looked like which helped me determine what colors should be used and what buttons are on the screen. It also showed what some of the prompts that the app asked the user were. One feature that I found really helpful was a notification that popped up that told users to put their phone down while they walk to ensure their safety. Furthermore, it showed me what other companies that are creating AR-based navigation tools are doing to stay up to date with the technology. Overall, this video helped me determine what my solution should look like and what information it should prompt the user to input in order to create a seamless, easy to use, intuitive app.