The strategy behind my line of questions was to prime the interviewee and get them thinking about how they navigate using digital interfaces and hand held devices. Further priming involved a second line of questions around how they might navigate using strictly analog or traditional wafinding and signage. The goal here was to get them to make their own (perhaps subconscious) connections and disparities between these two different ways of navigating. I chose a line of questions that shed neither a positive or negative light on one or the other, but just to get them draw their own conclusions around the two different modes.
I added some situations for each line of questioning so that I wouldn’t get generic response, but rather a focused response about the two opposing navigational modes. I wanted them to picture themselves in a situation and reflect upon their answer, rather than having them answer based solely upon the question in whatever environment they were currently in. I felt that this would help to keep the answers unbiased and add a sense of realness. I wanted to connect their heads with their hearts when answering the questions.
A further grouping of questions was specifically asked after they had a chance to answer without bias that was purposely slanted towards my stance in my thesis statement, without revealing my thesis statement directly. I felt that this would allow them to interject their own personal views, which were centered upon my thesis, but not yet putting any of my words in their head.
The follow up to this was to present them with my thesis statement and ask them to reflect. The subject was not aware of my thesis statement, or my research topic specifically (although they may have drawn their own conclusion by this point). I felt that this would provide me with an honest gauge of my topic and thesis statement from an outside perspective.
NOTE:
I did not alter the grammar or syntax of any of the responses.
Research topic interview questions:
General
Do you generally know where you are going before you set out, or do you find your way as you go?
generally yes I know I’m going. I would say the ratio is 60 to 40%.
Do you ever stop to ask directions, or find it easy to ask for directions if you feel you do not know where you are going?
Yes, I would rather ask for directions then be frustrated.
Have you ever gotten lost in a parking deck, parking lot, mall, or hospital (or other location), even though you had a general awareness of your location?
Yes even though I’m very good at location and direction. Hospitals are the worst.
If so, can you describe specifically why you got lost?
Primarily a lack of signage, other reasons would include Areas look similar or identical to others within the location.
Navigation aids (Digital)
Have you ever used Google Maps (or Mapquest, or similar online service) to get directions?
Yes, many times. Primarily to understand the amount of time it takes to get some more the distance ticket.
What about a GPS (either in a vehicle or a hand held device) system to find directions?
Yes I rely on a GPS system built into my vehicle. I use it primarily to find locations for the first time.
What’s your preference (either an online service, GPS system, or written/spoken directions)?
I prefer a GPS system or any type of system that would allow me to access the directions hands-free.
What do you find beneficial about your preference over the other options?
The big benefit of a GPS is system is that it’s hands-free and easy to use and understand.
What are the drawbacks (if any)?
The main drawback is that if you need to use the system and I am Already driving, I have to pullover to either set the system or search the System. It also has a very annoying tone of voice. Also you have to be in the vehicle to access the information so you can’t necessarily plan a trip without getting in the car.
Some services (such as Google maps) have alternate transportation modes (by car, by public transit, walking and bicycling), have you ever used any of these options?
Yes I have used Google maps walking directions. I have found them to be useful in navigating through areas while on trips.
Some of these services also allow you to alter your route (depending on traffic patterns, speed, or route specific options such as avoiding types of routes) have you ever used these features, if so, do you find them useful?
Yes, I have used this type of service often in my vehicle. I can look ahead on the screen or in most instances the unit will predict there is congestion ahead. This is very helpful when You are pressed for time or focused on your commute.
Do you generally trust directions provided by computers or hand held devices?
Yes I do trust directions provided by most devices. I have had experiences with services such as MapQuest and even my new vehicle GPS system where the directions were misleading or incorrect. The latter has been minimal but when it occurs it is frustrating.
Navigational aids (analog/traditional) (consider being in an unfamiliar and potentially confusing location such as a mall, a large parking lot, parking deck or other location)
Do you generally feel directions provided by signage (or maps) are easy to understand enough to only look at them once before you understand where specifically your destination is?
I would say generally, yes for signage but there are many directional signs that are very frustrating or misleading. I do not find traditional paper maps to be very intuitive or quick to understand when Looking for specific routes (especially long trips).
Generally speaking, once you reach your destination, are you able to find your way back to your starting point without further directions?
Yes for the most part. It depends on how complicated the route was to begin with.
Do you feel that navigational aids (such as maps or waypoints) are posted frequently enough?
No. I find that many areas need better signage that are easier and quicker to understand. I often find that maps that are posted in the areas of towns, cities and places like malls are Often not clear or not truly representative of the space they are focused on.
Do you feel that navigational aids (such as maps or waypoints) are logical?
The use of these navigational aids are very logical; however, they are often not used correctly Or not effective.
Navigational aids (analog/traditional) (consider traveling in an unfamiliar location such as a new city or public transit system)
Do you generally feel directions provided by signage (or maps) are easy to understand enough to only look at them once before you understand where specifically your destination is?
I would say 30 to 40% of the time signage is easy to understand.
Generally speaking, once you reach your destination, are you able to find your way back to your starting point without further directions?
Yes, although it does really depend on how complicated the route was to begin with.
Do you feel that navigational aids (such as maps or waypoints) are posted frequently enough?
No. I think there are areas that can use more.
Do you feel that navigational aids (such as maps or waypoints) are logical?
Yes if they are correct and accurate.
Navigational aids (analog/traditional) (consider a situation where you must navigate through multiple areas to a specific destination – such as from your car, through a parking deck, to a particular building, to particular space within that building, which may require taking stairs, elevators, and navigating through corridors or doors)
Do you feel that you are able to navigate confidently without mild to moderate stress or confusion?
In most situations. I have had experiences where it is difficult to find your way out to where you want to go because of a lack of signage.
Do you feel that you would be able to find your way to your starting location easily?
To find my way back to the starting location? Yes, I feel that once I never paid a path I usually retain that information and I’m able to follow it back.
Would you feel confident that you could alter your route on the fly and still find your way without the aid of further navigational help?
Yes in most situations.
Consider being in a hospital room or in a large department store in a mall, would you be able to point in the direction of the nearest exit or the direction of your car?
After a moment of understanding where I am within the building, I would say about 75-80% of the time I would be able to.
Would you at any point be able to tell which direction is North, South, East or West?
After a moment of understanding where I am within the building, I would say about 75-80% of the time I would be able to.
General
Do you feel that there is great room for improvement with traditional wayfinding (signage) systems? If so, what would those improvements be?
Yes. Larger print so anyone could quickly glance and understand what The signage system says quickly. Also, the use of symbols and color could improve usability. Interaction is also an area that could improve experience. The use of technologies such NFC, etc. could really eventually make it extremely difficult to get lost.
With the advent of mobile devices and services such as Google maps, do you find yourself relying less on traditional wayfinding (signage) systems?
Yes, but they are still critical and can evolve with technology.
Consider this statement:
User’s needs, habits and expectations in how they navigate have evolved as a result of hand held devices and digital interfaces. Wayfinding strategies derived from these devices and interfaces can be applied to traditional (analog) wayfinding systems, providing complex information and cognitive value to the user. This will not only make analog navigation clearer, but more effective. Traditional wayfinding must evolve to match the new user’s expectation or risk becoming outdated and no longer useful.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If so, why?
I do agree. Technologies that exist today and emerging technologies in the future can really change for the better or ease the way we move around. I can see a day when I can walk down the street and the signage around me would change based on my needs.
Reflection
I noticed an underlying theme in the answers, which was that this particular individual, (and what I assume is the case for most people) was concerned with ease of use more than anything. How easy it was to navigate in all aspects, traditional or analog, and with digital interfaces directly translated to the perceived frustration level and by extension the ability to navigate. For example the user stated that asking for directions was an easy choice to avoid frustration. I had thrown this question in there not really knowing what I expected the answer to be or how it would relate specifically to my topic. I drew the connection with ease of use as it relates to a successful trip regardless of if the user has utilized an interface, GPS or an analog system.
Another crucial answer that stuck out to me is the fact that this interviewee demonstrated (through his answers) a strong sense of confidence in their ability to navigate, but still admitted that there were particular instances (hospitals, in this case) where navigation is difficult, despite knowing in advance where they were going. I felt that this was right in line with my research and thesis statement.
The interviewee stated that how long the trip was going to take was an important piece of information that digital interfaces and hand held devices provided. I feel that this is one of the key strategies that can be applied to traditional systems that currently does not exist. Providing this data in traditional wayfinding would greatly increase the users cognition about where they were and where they were going.
A couple of the questions mentioned the ease of use of hand held devices (specifically GPS units in automobiles) because they were hands free. This was interesting to me, because traditional navigational aides (with the exception of hand held maps) are already hands free (signage). Perhaps this is one instance where traditional navigation has a leg up on hand held devices.
It was interesting to note that the subject felt a sense of frustration that they had when forced to pull their vehicle over to operate the GPS unit, showing no regard for the safety implications of not having to do this.
It is also interesting to note that the interviewee felt that traditional signage was typically confusing or misleading, implying that digital interfaces and hand held devices are superior in regards to clarity. This is a chief reason why I feel that traditional signage may face obsolescence if it does not adapt. To further this concept, the interviewee also suggested that it was not only traditional signage that was fault, but the user as well, stating that maps or way points are often not used correctly. This could be a result of poor signage, or an incompetent user, a combination of both, or the former resulting in the latter.
I feel that the subjects answers in regards to spacial cognition were very interesting. The interviewee stated that if given a moment, they could (for the most part) be able to tell East, West, North and South even if placed in a department store (while not stated in the question, I presumed there would be no windows). I don’t find this the case personally, and suppose that one’s “sense of direction” may vary wildly from person to person.
I believe that the answers to the final two sets of questions were a good boost of confidence and validation for my thesis statement and research in general.
Overall, this was a great experience, and I think that these types of interviews should be conducted much more often on the front end for more projects and assignments both in courses at SCAD as well as in the real world. I feel that there are insights gained from these types of exercises that is often overlooked or even considered, and it helps to make a much more well rounded solution.