Human-centred design involves placing the human at the centre of all design considerations and decisions. Looking at a smart phone, someone coming from the ‘machine’ perspective might be concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of file accessibility for a user. But a human-centred design methodology starts from the other end – the person, rather than… Read more
Posts Categorized: Ideas
Ambient Computing in Public Transport Environments
A forested area is an environment rich with information – there are different paths, varieties of plants, and an array of sound and colour. Yet such a walk is refreshing and relaxing, because you do not have to pay full attention to all these pieces of information surrounding you. You can focus on some and… Read more
Finding a Place for Dynamic Information in Public Transport Environments
Hand in hand with digital technology is information that is dynamic. But why is this necessarily a better way to present what customers need to know compared with traditional, static signs? the system could identify where a person is going to or coming from, and when they pass a screen you could show the exact… Read more
Improving Transport Environments Through Designing Their Infostructure
Improving the infrastructure of a city can at times be a complex and difficult task. It’s generally expensive, a lengthy process, and sometimes controversial. What’s often more achievable is improving what we call the ‘infostructure.’ The infostructure makes use of mobile and ubiquitous computing technologies, coupled with dynamic urban displays, to give users access to… Read more
Visualising perspectives with rich pictures
In dealing with a wicked problem like transport, it is sometimes difficult to have all parties involved seeing eye-to-eye and having a common understanding about the issues involved. The ‘Rich Picture’ methodology goes some way to attempting to make some of the perspectival differences clearer to those involved in the process. A ‘rich picture’ is… Read more
Innovation and smart technology in public transport
Though large-scale changes to infrastructure may be difficult, smaller modifications to the transport environment can improve customer flow, speeds, and leave people with a more pleasant experience as they commute. Below are examples of services and components of the transport system that help achieve this, drawn from Hong Kong and Seoul train stations. Above is… Read more
Into the loop
Historically, the interaction between person and machine was very simple – a person knew what they wanted to do and that they wanted to use the machine to do it, so they went and pressed a button and it happened. The interaction between these peers only went one way, from person to machine, with nothing… Read more
T-card electronic payment in Korea
T-money is a smart card which can be recharged and used to pay for transport in South Korea, in a similar style to Melbourne’s Myki or Sydney’s Opal card. But what’s different about T-money is that it’s not limited to paying for your train fare. It’s also a credit card that can be used in… Read more
Signage examples in Germany and UK
Different countries use signage in transport systems in a variety of ways. By analysing examples, common design principles become apparent – clean and uncluttered information presented in a simple way, with a mixture of static and dynamic signs. In Frankfurt, small amounts of information are placed on highly visible signs. Both the size of the… Read more
Wayfinding case study Hong Kong
Overseas, transport systems employ a range of different methodologies to assist people in navigating stations. These can include static signs, dynamic displays, and interactive information points. Hong Kong can be seen to use a mixture of these in helping customers wayfind around a typical station. As you enter the station and go down the escalator,… Read more