Spokespeople: helping cyclists record incidents on the road
Spokespeople is a digital system for cyclists that makes it simple to record incidents and experiences while riding their bikes. The system consists of a low-cost Bluetooth button mounted on bike handlebars, and an app that allows people to describe their experiences of the route they’ve just taken. The mapping software is built on Make Place, an open-source mapping system developed in the Lab.My Role
Audience Interview
Feature Ideation
Wireframe Design
Outcome
1. User Interview and Analysis
2. Design Concept and Wireframes
Background
Just 2% of Newcastle residents cycle to work - and with barriers such as safety and a lack of infrastructure, it’s not hard to see why. Researchers from Open Lab sought to change this, by looking into how digital technology and data can help make cycling in Newcastle a better experience. Sepcifically the project is concerned with how people can make visible their everyday cycling experiences, enabling them to collect data and lobby the city council for changes? This research work overall centers around citizen generated data in hope to enable local people and communities to collecting evidence to inform and make visible issues which are generally hidden from public consciousness.
There are a few areas this project focuses on to help create impact and bring change to this work moving forward:
1. Research Engagement
2. Data storytelling
3. Design Concept
Process
1. Research Team Discussion
2. User Interview
3. Affinity Diagram
4. Design
How it works
Project Goals
This portion of the research project interested in:1. Supporting dialogue between citizens regarding the issues raised by data collection
2. Promoting further engagement with issues raised by existing users of the technologies eg. increasing engagement of existing users with collected data
3. Promoting prioritisation of the issues identified through citizen data collection
User Interview
Goal: Acquire user perspective & understanding towards potiential areas of change on the website.We conducted 6 inteview participants who personally using bike to get around the city. And have them review the website design by going through interaction scenarios. This process revealed a few improvement areas on the design and ways to ideate around what can the site focus on in the next steps.
1. Map Clarification
2. Route Making for Cyclists
3. Creating a Personal Narrative
4. Using Data & Links for Action
5. Physical Engagement in Newcastle
User Flow
Idea Brainstorm
After organizing the results of the interviews, we see data storytelling as an important part of moving forward. Both the online website data and the changes to the city's public biking accommodations offline are dependent on a better presentation of the data at the individual and public level.
Design Wireframe
1. Color and Legend Filters2. Provide Data Context to Personal and Collective Data Points
3. Link Data to Action
4. Physical Engagement in Newcastle
Credits
Project Scope
User InterviewFeature Ideation
Time
2 Weeks
Team
Aare Puussaar
Thomas Maskell
Alania Creager
Aare Puussaar
Thomas Maskell
Alania Creager