● Description: Product Development
● Platform: Native iOS
● Timeline: MAR 2023 - JUN 2023
Objective: Google Maps' navigational UI lacks accessibility features to assist users affected by auditory or visual impairments. This project proposes attention-aware notifications that incorporate motion graphics, intuitive haptic interactions and auditory & visual notifications to alert drivers.
Problem: Though it is praised for the accuracy of its navigation, the user experience of Google Maps is plagued by an outdated interface and arbitrary commands that could leave end users confused and more prone to make driving errors.
In order to gain insight regarding user pain-points attributed to its’ car navigation interface, an online survey was conducted among users of Google Maps. Participants were prompted to rank frustrations, improvements, and modes for delivering direction information from highest to lowest on a five-point Likert scale. The data was synthesized into visualization diagrams to display user preferences and demographics.
Google Maps’ competitors are making great strides in mitigating some of the issues plaguing the existing Google Maps navigation and are implementing features in their own products, so in order to evaluate the contrasting strengths, weaknesses, and unique features of popular apps a competitive analysis was conducted. It provides insights into market trends, consumer needs and potential areas for improvement or innovation in navigation technology.
This journey map diagram illustrates the four key stages of a general user’s actions upon receiving a directional queue and then subsequently acting on that queue: Activate, Navigate, Receive, React. Each stage highlights critical user interactions, emotional factors, decision points and areas where notifications or interactions could be improved for an optimal navigation experience.
This UX persona and flow diagram describes the journey of a user interacting with a navigation app while driving. The process begins by activating GPS navigation and then proceeding through the route. The user then receives navigational prompts and ultimately reacts based on the information provided. This flow highlights key decision points and user actions. Sample 4 also features Persona 1 which includes a detailed user biography, list of goals, needs and driver metrics.
Storyboarding was used to further reflect the pain points a user might encounter when engaged in navigating using Google Maps. Figure 1.a illustrates the user's confusion when relating the digital interface to their real-world environment. They are initially confused by the UI's navigation until prompted by a visual aid that guides them to the correct path. Figure 1.b demonstrates how stress arises as the user struggles to identify their destination.
This accessibility evaluation of the proposed features focuses on their effectiveness in supporting users with diverse needs. The assessment covers sight and visual aids, including contrast and text readability, hearing and auditory aids such as voice guidance and notifications, and haptic feedback for users with limited visual or auditory capabilities. The goal is to improve overall inclusivity and user experience.
Based off of the insights from early testing, a high fidelity prototype was produced. Product features were reiterated according to user feedback with a focus on color distinction and overall design, efficacy of the tested features as well as addressing concerns over color accessibility. The high fidelity prototype was tested on a pool of 25 participants.
As the vehicle proceeds through the route, the UI is augmented with attention-aware features that include an animated directional overlay, preemptive alerts and the ability to see an image of the destination before the driver arrived. These three features rated highest in desirability according to user surveys.
