Urban Mobility / Personal
THEME INTRODUCTION
Personal
mobility
Consider how people live in densely populated
cities like Rotterdam and think of the many smart
and energy-efficient concepts and visions that have
been developed in recent years to improve mobility
In these cities. How many have failed and how
many have succeeded on the long term? How do
and will such concepts really work for people and
be acceptable to them? To gain Insights Into this
requires close contact with citizens, understanding
their dally experience of city mobility and seeing
how they Interact with existing and new mobility
concepts.
In this section we will present the results of an
exploratory Interaction design case study of
citizen experience In urban mobility. The study
aims to Identify salient themes in citizen's dally
experience of mobility and to Identify stakeholder
collaboration and communication opportunities.
The study was part of a master education project
in the 'Design for Interaction' MSc program at the
Industrial Design Engineering Faculty of the TU
Delft. In the project Exploring Interactions, eighteen
design students researched the city mobility
experience via explorative research in Rotterdam
from the perspective of citizens. The assignment
for the students was to investigate how people
live and want to be mobile In the city: what should
be the contours of their urban mobility options?
In an Iterative co-creation approach, the students
developed Interaction concepts that are designed
to enhance and Integrate new forms and preferences
for mobility in the city. Their assignment was
"Mobile City, designing for tomorrow".
The 18 students' individual findings and concepts
were afterwards analysed as a multiple case study
to identify salient themes and implications for city
mobility. This multiple case study approach (Runeson
& Host, 2009) revealed four main themes related
to the experience of dally life and mobility in the
city and how it could become more sustainable,
both environmentally, experientially and socially.
These themes can serve as valuable thinking tools
when considering city mobility design decisions and
when identifying knowledge gaps on city mobility
to investigate further. The themes can serve as
'drivers' for the development of visions and ideas by
stakeholders on how to improve the integration of
different aspects of the city and how to forge new
and unexpected synergies.
In the next part we will elaborate on these four
themes and their implications, and after that we will
illustrate them by students' insights and co-created
concepts. These concepts have value as 'thinking
tools' and inspiration for interventions into city
mobility experiences.
Daily city mobility experiences
Based on the exploratory research of the mobility
experience of citizens in densely populated cities
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
74
P i c t u r e
p e d e s t r i a n t u n n e l under thie Ivlaas river (source; w w w . n a t i o n a l g e o g r a p l i i c . n D
Urban Mobility / Personal
THEME INTRODUCTION
(notably in Rotterdam and its nearby region)
conducted by the 18 students, we can distinguish
four main themes that offer opportunities for
improved interaction and experience. These four
themes are: choices, negotiations, guidance, and
stopping and moving.
With respect to the first theme 'choices' we see that
citizens often make transport and mobility choices
that do not support their own needs. They choose
for unsustainable transport modes or refrain from
mobility all together, caused by a lack of time and
busy pressured lives at home and unawareness of
mobility options or low relatedness to society (for
certain user groups). There are opportunities to
better support citizens in their transport choices
in ways meaningful to them, by enabling them to
ingrate mobility planning in their work and life
arrangements, and daily life experience. The second
theme 'negotiations' concerns the confrontation
between 'newcomers' and the existing mobility or
transport system. Citizens introduce new transport
modes to the city that break existing routines, or are
'newcomers' to the city themselves and unable to get
oriented. This leads to contested space in mobility
encounters between citizens, creating frustrations,
risks and potential for conflicts. Opportunities
emerge to better understand new groups and find
expressions for the integration of newcomers.
The change they bring holds potential to boost a
city's quality of life, image and tourism. The third
theme observed in the students' projects is about
'guidance' of traffic streams. Much of the city mobility
is collective and streams of traffic are guided and flow
in an organized way. They are however, contested
in terms of prioritization. New types of streams and
mobility users could be prioritized but also mingling
and integration could be supported. There are
oppor-tunities to prioritize underserved streams such as
pedestrians and the city can gain in image, air quality,
vibrancy (through use) and safety. The final theme
identified in the 18 projects is about 'stopping and
moving' and the potential for improving daily citizens'
experiences during these situations. City mobility
often means being slowed down or stopping and
waiting, and of course moving around. Most city
envi-ronments during 'stopping or moving' are frequently
uninspiring and dull, and do not tend to address human
experience beyond basic functionality. There are ample
opportunities to enrich the physical environment and
traveller's journey with aesthetic and social experience
and interaction, empowerment and exploration. This
will contribute to a higher quality of life in the city.
In the following sections we will illustrate these four
themes by two student project findings and concepts
each.
R e f e r e n c e
Runeson, P & H o s t M 2 0 0 9 . Guidelines for conducting and repotting case study
research in software engineering, Empir S o f t w a r e Eng, No. 14, p p 131-164.
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
7 ( .
Urban Mobility / Personal
Choices
•
d
'Ü
What is the situation
People make transport choices that do not
support their own needs: unsustainable
transport or refraining from mobility.
Key findings
This is because it starts with mobility choices
at home where many choices and factors
compete for the user's attention - causing
for example, unawareness in pressured lives,
or low relatedness to society.
Implications
To enable people to make daily transport choices
that support their needs and are sustainable and
inclusive, these choices need to be integrated
into life and work arrangements at home in a
meaningful way. Municipalities can achieve gains
in citizen health, air quality and inclusiveness.
Student projects as examples
1. in already busy life and work arrangements
- simplify busy lives
2. in the enhancement of life and work
arrangements - enhance impaired lives
Rotterdam Eco-lnnovation Lab
P i c t u r e
R o t t e r d a m Randstadraii (source: www.flickr.com)
Personal / Urban Mobility
Urban Mobility / Personal
P R O J E C T
eTravel,
influencing
the moment
of transport
choice
s t u d e n t O t t o v a n B i e s s u m Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b80
P e r s o n a l / U r b a n M o b i l i t yKey finding
"Feedback on t r a n s p o r t choices needs t o start when someone sets t h e alarm the night before, t o wake up in t i m e for a particular mode of travel the next morning. Feedback needs t o be intuitive, positive, reflective, integrated, shareable."
Focus
people often make daily t r a n s p o r t choices that do not support their own needs: unhealthy and unsustainable. Biessum wanted to support people in acquiring a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
Insiglits
he researched at which moment people travel dally, how they travel, where t o , and what for. He found that there are gaps in people's awareness during t h e day. This resulted in a design focus on alerts, integrated with people's routines, surroundings and the things they use.
Intervention
van Biessum sought t o influence the moment of transport choice. Biessum focused on an interesting dilemma: people do not want an extra thing giving feedback - it needs t o be unobtrusive. Yet people also f o r g e t t o make conscious choices, so there still needs t o be active feedback, offering reflection. He initially designed, p r o t o t y p e d and tested key fobs t o provide feedback on the personal consequences of choosing, f o r example, the car.
Insights
users found the key f o b s t o o passive. Based on Consolvo, McDonald and Landay's C2009) theory-driven design strategies, Biessum then sought t o refine t h e intended interaction into being Abstract <S Reflective, Unobtrusive, Public and Positive.
Final design
The final concept Is an integrated app for smart watch, alarm clock and smartphone. It lets users log their behaviour, set goals, and notice feedback at several moments during the day.
R e f e r e n c e s
Consolvo, S., M c D o n a l d , D. W., & Landay, J . A. ( 2 0 0 9 ) . Theory-driven design strategies for technologies that support behavior change in everyday life. In P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e SIGCHI C o n f e r e n c e on H u m a n Factors in C o m p u t i n g S y s t e m s ( p p . 4 0 5 - 4 1 4 ) . A C M . Picture Smart w a t c h
;-rii
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a bUrban Mobility / Personal
P R O J E C T
Get Out
Together:
influencing
the choice
to go out
via social
interaction
s t u d e n t J o e p S e r r a r e n s Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a bPersonal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Focused preparation at iiome for grocery shopping, putting senior and volunteer on the same level, gives both senior and volunteer a warm feeling of t a k i n g part in routines and surprises."
Focus
Serrarens sought t o support seniors w i t h physical impairments in their t r a n s p o r t choices. Some do not go out at all, or feel reluctant t o make use of volunteer services. This example highlights the social aspect of mobility choices and how they are related t o participation in society.
insiglits
An initial qualitative research consisted of t w o in-depth interviews w i t h seniors over 75 years of age who experienced some physical limitations, plus observations, literature research and expert Interviews w i t h volunteer organizations. The research showed that the seniors experienced a spiral of decreased competence and relat-edness to society when they go out less.
Intervention
serrarens found that t h e best way of promoting mobility for seniors w i t h phys-ical limitations w i t h g r o c e r y shopping is through personalized volunteer help. Based on the research Serrarens created personas and scenarios. These showed t h a t a focused preparation at home would offer the most freedom t o optimally experience leaving the house and interacting w i t h t h e volunteer.
P i c t u r e s
T h e first c o n c e p t of t h e b o o k l e t s
Insights
repeatedly testing different concepts for the preparation at home showed that by p u t t i n g senior and volunteer on t h e same level of effort for one another it would make the senior feel less burdened receiving help. Different stakeholders recognized the potential of interacting like this.
Final design
the final concept Is a booklet t h a t a senior and a volunteer use in order t o plan activities and prepare something nice for each other. This would make t h e senior feel less burdened receiving help.
anspo
and
transport users
What is the situation?
citizens add new modes of transport to the
city, or are themselves new and unable to
get oriented. This breaks routines in mobility
encounters between citizens, creating
frustrations, risks and potential for conflicts.
Key findings
negotiations mean building relationships
and establishing new modes of interaction.
These negotiations need to take place at the
systemic planning level but also, importantly,
between citizens themselves. Citizens need to
be enabled to adapt their routines.
Rotterdam Eco-lnnovation Lab
implications
a municipality can strive to understand and
develop scenarios for the needs of new groups
and the change they bring, boosting the city's
quality of life, image and tourism. Doing this
requires negotiations, flexibility, integration
of new modes of mobility into the city.
Companies like a train company can
showcase their service orientation.
Student projects as examples
1. facilitating a new, 'green' mode of transport
that fits people's needs: focus on signalling.
2. facilitating orientation for foreigners
coming to live in Rotterdam.
P i c t u r e
Different modes of t r a n s p o r t
Urban Mobility / Personal PROJECT
Surfing in
the streets:
facilitating
a new,
sustainable
mode of
transport
s t u d e n t R o d e r i c k H u i j g e n Tutors Dr. S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b88
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Longboard users are enabled t o travel safely t l i r o u g l i the city at night by improving their relationship w i t h other travelers thrpiigh confident, clear and cool interaction."
Focus
longboarding is a new mode of t r a n s p o r t for commuting: it is flexible in t h e city, requires no outdoor storage, is a healthy activity, and makes use of cycle paths. Student Roderick Huijgen Is a longboarder. What Is a longboard? It is a large, heavy, high quality skateboard. They come in many shapes and sizes. They are used mainly for travelling, not for tricks. Average cruising speed is between 10 and 30 k m / h . The number of users is growing fast in the Netherlands.
Insights
huljgen's short interviews w i t h 19 long-board users during an event, i n - d e p t h inter-views and observations w i t h 3 longboard commuters, 7 interviews w i t h cyclists and a survey on Facebook revealed the needs and problems of longboard users in t r a f f i c . Particularly travelling in low lighting condi-tions causes problems In signalling t o other t r a f f i c users. Longboard users look like pedestrians but are faster, and other t r a f f i c participants do not give them room.
Final design
A number of p r o t o t y p e tests w i t h various types and positions of lighting on t h e long-boarder led t o positioning of t h e lighting on the hands in the f o r m of a lit 'sliding puck' evoking an Ironman reference. This enables the longboarder t o signal by gesturing w i t h light, and thus be distinct f r o m other traffic users. Regular t r a f f i c colours were f o u n d in tests t o be confusing, so irregular colours such as blue should be used. Users can switch colours.
Insights
the final p r o t o t y p e was t e s t e d by a user in the street. Huijgen also initiated a broad Facebook discussion by posting movies o f t h e concept. Huijgen: "Although nearly everyone loved the concept and the refer-ence t o the Ironman inspiration, there were concerns about the use of unusual colours in t r a f f i c and how the police would react to t h e m . " This is a pertinent question: how can and does a city integrate a new mode of t r a n s p o r t such as this one Into Its fabric?
Pictures I n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e p o s i t i o n i n g of l i g h t i n g on t h e b o d y for recognizability Designing, p r o t o t y p i n g and s t r e e t t e s t i n g a signaling s y s t e m for l o n g b o a r d users
89
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a bUrban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
na ask
s t u d e n t J u l e e W uthe way?
Ask the
stranger
in Red
Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b90
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key insight
" O f t e n , the types of questions foreigners have at the station are "Is this the plat-form to go to Den Haag?" For this, given today's peer-to-peer sharing culture, people no longer want t o rely on queuing for official information."
Focus
julee Wu started her project f r o m her own experience of being a foreigner unaccustomed t o orienting in a language using the latin alphabet. This becomes a challenge in public t r a n s p o r t , for example train stations. Wu's project focuses on Rotterdam Central Station.
Insights
o f t e n , the types of questions foreigners have are "Is this the platform t o go to Den Haag?" For this, given today's peer-to-peer sharing culture, people no longer want to rely on queuing for official information. However, some mediation is needed.
Insights
wu investigated how people feel about asking and being asked t h e way by interviewing people in t h e station. She observed how people act and react when they want t o ask the way or when asked the way. Through design and p r o t o t y p i n g Interventions Wu explored facilitating the asker - t o be able t o ask more easily - or t h e answerer - to approach people who look like they might need help. She f o u n d that in the Netherlands, people t e n d not t o " d i s t u r b " someone else, even if t h a t person looks lost.
Intervention
wu explored interaction qualities t h a t could facilitate mutual interaction between strangers. The Interaction qualities that Wu sought t o evoke are: easy and t r u s t i n g , being linked t h r o u g h a
shared goal, having c o m f o r t a b l e converse tion. With t h a t , Wu's concept is very much in line with the current e f f o r t s t o give the Dutch train stations more character and livable qualities.
Final design
wu devised a systemic way t h e NS could overcome t h e dilemma that people want t o interact directly, but neither help others nor feel comfortable asking for help: if a train station actively encourages mutual help, both asker and answerer will feel more ready t o interact. Regular commuters would be enabled t o volunteer as someone you can ask, simply by wearing a colour. Signs In the station could invite interaction:"Lost?", "Want t o ask the way?", "Busy at t h e information d e s k ? " " T h e n ask t h e person In this color". Even shops could improve their attractiveness by encouraging this interac-t i o n . The interac-train sinterac-tainterac-tion iinterac-tself could publish its colour of the day on t h e train Information website. People checking f o r their train can 'opt in' t o wear this colour t h a t day. This way, people contribute t o t h e station becoming a friendly station full of character.
P i c t u r e
Final c o n c e p t : s i g n a g e at R o t t e r d a m central s t a t i o n t o e n c o u r a g e h e l p f u l i n t e r a c t i o n
Urban Mobility / Pers
Guid
What is the situation?
Much of city mobility is collective: streams
of traffic are guided and flow in an organized
way. Which streams to prioritize, and how to
integrate them with other streams?
Key findings
Pedestrians are currently not a prioritised
stream. But they could be, starting from
Rotterdam central station. In other situations,
streams cannot be separated, they mingle.
Here it is possible to calm down the situation,
give it visual order and enable the traffic
users to cooperate.
Implications
are to understand the experience of
particular streams traffic users (perhaps now
underserved) and their needs. This challenges
the status quo of the city fabric. The city can
gain in image, air quality, vibrancy (through
use), and safety. Stakeholders such as builders
can increase service quality and efficiency
through new ideas.
Student projects as examples
1. prioritising and fast-tracking the pedestrian
stream through Rotterdam from central
station
2. creating corridors of shared space,
enabling traffic users to give space to
each others' flow.
P i c t u r e
Ridderkerk I n t e r c l i a n g e (source; h t t p ; / / w i k i m a p i a . o r g )
Urban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
s t u d e n t C e e s J a n S t a mThe
Pedestrian
Highway
Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n sPersonal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Pedestrian commuters actually preferred walking in groups t o solitary walking.
TPiey can be guided as a stream of t r a f f i c using colour and ligfit. Using just sound is less effective at a station and its surround-ings."
Focus
Improve the experience of travelling through the city as a pedestrian commuter, arriving at the station in Rotterdam c i t y centre.
Insiglits
stem's initial design goal was t o f i n d a way to enable pedestrians to choose different routes t o avoid congestion. Early in-context tests led to several findings; t h e c o n t e x t was very susceptible t o use of colour and light, unlike sound, which was very inef-fective. Commuters also behaved differ-ently and had different needs than Stam expected. Rather than being annoyed by crowds, the pedestrian commuters actually preferred walking in groups t o solitary walking. The design direction became t o create efficient pedestrian group travel in t h e city.
Final design
The final design consists of displays in the station; an augmented city plan and route time. Additionally t h e t r a f f i c lights are phased along the travel routes t o provide a smooth and clear pedestrian c o m m u t e into the city. The concept provides t h e user with usable waiting time at the start. This otherwise f r a g m e n t e d t i m e waiting at traffic lights, can now be used in the station, for example t o get a coffee.
P i c t u r e s
Photos s t o r y Final C o n c e p t
Urban Mobility / Personal
PROJECT
'Under
Construction'
Creating
corridors of
shared space,
enabling traffic
users to give
space to each
other
s t u d e n t L a u r a S c h o k k e r Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b 9 ( ]Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Wiien creating a diversion t h r o u g h building works, streams of pedestrian and bicycle traffic mingle. When it Is not possible t o separate them; it does not work t o make cyclists step off. Instead, one can calm down the situation, give it visual order and enable the traffic users t o cooperate."
Focus
The project sought t o promote t h e feeling of safety in areas where pedestrians and cyclists share the same space because of construction work.
Insiglits
Initial interviews w i t h t e n citizens at the location of building works revealed many irritations around building works. An expert interview with Marc Verheijen, Professor of Infratecture at the Rotterdam University of Applied Science Rotterdam revealed that even near-accidents already affect people's feeling of safety strongly. Schokker conducted early tests w i t h lines on t h e ground. The idea was t o make the bicyclists follow their 'own' line so that the situation would feel more structured. The f i n d i n g was that not everyone understood the idea and some didn't even notice the lines. People also tend t o take the shortest route.
Intervention
Schokker devised a set of interactive tiles. The idea was to make t h e bicyclists step off via messages or playful tasks, so there wouldn't be any fast traffic in this area.
Insights
From the reactions of the participants Schokker concluded that bicyclists are reluctant to step off unless forced t o do so. She also found out that the design itself should not block the flow of people.
Final design
Going back t o the feeling of safety. Schokker re-thought her design direction and focused on awareness of people of what is around t h e m . She proposed partition walls consisting of mirrored slats at an angle. With these mirroring partition walls, as a pedestrian you can always see t h e complete reflection on your right t o see what is coming, and you can still have an open view t h r o u g h the slats on the left. The partition wall was designed t o be particularly easy t o set up, because partition walls are o f t e n set up by under-qualified personnel.
P i c t u r e s
Early p r o t o t y p e s : d r a w i n g lines on t h e g r o u n d
Full size t e s t on l o c a t i o n and materials studies for e v a l u a t i o n
P i c t u r e s next page
A n i m a t i o n for s c e n a r i o e v a l u a t i o n
Urban Mobility / Personal
Stopping
and moving
What is the situation?
City mobility often means being slowed down
or stopping and waiting, or, of course, moving
around. City environments currently do not
tend to address the human experience in this,
beyond functionality.
Key findings
While city environments are often currently
uninspiring, they could be so. They could be
visually inspiring and refreshing, or they could
be socially empowering by sometimes being
indeterminate. Promoting cohesion between
city travellers could also promote specific
means of transport such as the bicycle.
For that, it needs an active, yet simple and
immediate social trigger. Promoting curiosity
and city exploration also depends on the right
tool, such as clues to the surroundings.
Implications
are to discover the potential in these
environments and the journeys through them,
and to open them up to human needs such as
aesthetic and social experience and interaction,
exploration as well as empowerment. Creating
quality of life here affects other areas of
people's lives too as well as the quality and
image of the city itself. To achieve this.
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
a municipality or a transport company could
develop new approaches to environmental
planning (e.g. lab-type research and design
approaches, a 'city lab'?) that takes a
co-creation approach that include, for example,
citizens, user-centred designers, health
professionals, artists, new media communities
and citizen participation advocates.
Student projects Stopping
1. create the possibility of subtle surprise
and inspiration through large scale
environmental adaptations.
2. create the possibility of social interaction
through environmentally small scale media
interventions. This project is special in that
it ends up being just a facilitator. It does
not create the experience itself, but rather
offers a platform through which people
themselves come up with experiences they
create.
Student projects as
examples Moving
1. create the possibility of social interaction
and belonging during routine travel
2. create the possibility of discovering one's
Urban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
s t u d e n t Emilie Spronsen'Inspired
to work'
Creating
a moment
of menta
refreshment
for people
who take the
subway
Tutors
Dr. Stella Boess, Dr.-Ing. Anna Pohlmeyer
C o u r s e
Exploring I n t e r a c t i o n s
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
102
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
" M y research show^ed that commuters experience the subway environment as uninspiring. However, I recalled moments when my owrj 'zombie mode' in t h e subway had been disturbed by something t h a t gave me new energy psychologically. Environ-ment adaptions can subtly surprise and inspire commuters."
Focus
The project and its insights can serve as an inspiring vision on designing subway environments.
Insiglits
Spronsen set out questionnaires t o commuters, observed their behaviour, shadowed a subway commuter for a day, and conducted expert interviews. She found that commuters need t o display aloofness and disengagement in order t o be ready t o respond t o unpleasant surprises (delays or trouble) while also contemplating the day ahead. Still, the subway environ-ment is uninspiring t o users. Aboveground and underground are not experientially connected. Durmisevic and Sariyildiz (2001) similarly claimed that the human aspect was neglected in building Dutch underground spaces. Spronsen: "I recalled moments when my own 'zombie mode' in the subway had been disturbed by something that gave me new energy psychologically." Drawing on Relsenzein (1994), Spronsen concluded t h a t a surprise could be inspiring, but must be subtle in order to be pleasant.
Intervention
Spronsen conducted a design experi-ment on surprise: she placed three fellow students in a row like in the subway and gave them a newspaper t o read. She s p r i n -kled c o n f e t t i over them from above.
Insights
Two of the students f o u n d t h e experience of surprise pleasant, t h e t h i r d however, unpleasant and too invading. Spronsen concluded that there is a f i n e line between pleasant and unpleasant. A surprise should be within people's field of view and not too invading.
Intervention
Spronsen sketched several concepts. She selected a mobile, built a full scale prototype of it and t e s t e d it in t h e subway.
Insights
Observations and interviews showed that the prototype was not engaging. Spronsen again discussed more concepts w i t h subway users and found that when you move t h r o u g h something like a tunnel, it feels intimate. Instead of a product she decided t o design an environment, t o achieve an intimate marveling experience for users.
Final design
The final concept 'Frameworks', is inspired by Japanese torii gates and t h e beautiful shadows they create. It interferes in t h e dull subway environment as an undulating corridor of repeated frames above t h e escalators. The subway lighting creates a shadow and silhouette play between commuters ascending and descending. Catching only glimpses of oncoming travellers nourishes curiosity.
Insights
To t e s t the interaction qualities of her final concept, Spronsen conducted a role-play exploration w i t h one participant using a scale model and first-person perspective movie. Even very subtle movements of the design made the participant feel claustrophobic. The object should not visibly move. Only the view should change as people ride the esca-lator. The object then subtly changes shape overnight.
R e f e r e n c e s
Durmisevic, S. a n d Sariyildiz, S. (2001) A systematic quality assess-ment of underground spaces - public transport stations. Cities, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 13-23. Relsenzein, R. (1994)
Pleasure-Arousal Theory and the. Intensity of Emotions. J o u r n a l o f Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 67, No. 3, 5 2 5 - 5 3 9 .
Urban Mobility / Personal
R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
104
Personal / Urban Mobility
P i c t u r e
Spronsen's final design: 'Frameworks', a t u n n e l c r e a t i n g g l i m p s e s a n d play o f l i g h t
Urban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
'Connecting
Distrac
f
Clons
Creating a
moment
of socia
connectedness
for traffic
users at
intersections
s t u d e n t A n n a P a l m e r Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b106
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Shouldn't users be informed why they should do this? Based on her explorations Palmer concluded t h a t , no, they should explore the 'wfiy' by themselves, and they did. Palmer's work appeals t o the role of technology in the street as a space where people f i n d their expression. Palmer worked hard t o achieve and keep indeterminacy in her concept."
Focus
The project took as its focus t h e situa-tion of people waiting in public space, for example at a traffic light. What would best facilitate for people t o discover this space and moment as an o p p o r t u n i t y for c i t y life and social interaction? Palmer: "i am proud that I dared t o t h r o w myself out there and t e s t w i t h real users. In t o t a l I iterated the interactions with over 20 tests and all t h e decisions shaping the final concept are directly based on user feedback."
Insiglits
Palmer initially sought In her project t o increase the bicycling flow in the city. Her early research showed that people who are waiting at traffic lights are o f t e n calm and do not always mind waiting. They are used t o it and see it as inevitable. Palmer decided t o focus on this wait and t r i e d various ways of interacting w i t h people during their wait. They seemed t o enjoy it when something surprising happened.
Interventions
The first test was a quiz. A question was shown during the red light and t h e answer upon green light. This engaged people, they were curious about the answer. Surpris-ingly, people interacted w i t h each other, too.
Insights
When iterating t h e quiz and in other tests, Palmer found that people really liked to interact w i t h her and her colleagues. The quiz turned into a tool for interaction between people.
Final design
The final concept, 'The Screen', consists of screens placed at d i f f e r e n t t r a f f i c lights all over the world and connecting random traffic lights. Video and audio is always streaming live, creating a global connec-t i o n . The screen swiconnec-tches connecconnec-tion every day t o a different t r a f f i c light in a new country.
Insights
A question arising f r o m this project for Palmer was: shouldn't t h e users be informed why they should do this? Based on her explorations she concluded t h a t , no, she wanted them to explore t h e ' w h y ' by themselves. And they d i d . Once t h e y inter-acted with the screen they explored what t o do. Though not politically motivated as described by Sassen (2011), Palmer's work appeals to the role of technology in t h e street as a space where people f i n d their expression. Palmer worked hard to keep the indeterminacy in her concept t h a t would facilitate this, which also harks back t o the theory of the derive (Knabb, undated).
R e f e r e n c e s Saskia Sassen (2011) T h e G l o b a l S t r e e t : M a k i n g t h e P o l i t i c a l , G l o b a l i -z a t i o n s , 8:5, 5 7 3 - 5 7 9 K n a b b , Ken ( u n d a t e d ) G u y D e b o r d ' s T h e o r y o f t h e D é r i v e . Les L è v r e s Nues # 9 ( N o v e m b e r 1956), r e p r i n t e d in I n t e r n a t i o n a l e S i t u a t i o n n i s t e # 2 ( D e c e m b e r 1958). A c c e s s i b l e at h t t p : / / w w w . c d d c . v t . e d u / s i o n l i n e / s i / t h e o r y . h t m l . L a s t a c c e s s e d 6 a u g u s t , 2013. R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b
Urban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
'WINK'
Facilitating
social
interaction
and a fee
s t u d e n t L o r e n z o R o m a g n o l iof cohesion
during routin
city trave
Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b110
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"In groups with weak relationship like t r u c k drivers, hikers, neighbours etc, people share simple gestures such as a wave t o enhance cohesion within the group. I used this phenomenon for cohesion between urban cyclists, t o encourage cycling, i found t h a t there needs to be an active, yet simple and immediate social trigger."
Focus
Designing for cohesion between citizens is crucial in improving life in t h e city. This project seeks to enhance the group bonding between urban cyclists, making t h e m feel more like a community and thereby wanting t o take up or keep on cycling.
Insights
Romagnoli: "My design goal was inspired by behaviours I observed in groups w i t h weak relationship like t r u c k drivers, hikers, bus drivers, neighbours etc. In all those groups I noticed that people share some simple gestures such as a wave, even if t h e y don't know each other. This simple connection between people promotes cohesion within the group."
Intervention
Romagnoli: "I tried to trigger cyclists t o wave at each other. To remove myself as an influence I made a waving sign. Yet when I operated the sign people waved at me, or not at all, rather than at the next person."
Insights
Romagnoli concluded that a sign is not enough. Unlike Palmer he sought t o promote direct, local person-to person interaction to enable t h e m t o feel like a community. Romagnoli concluded t h a t people f i r s t need t o feel some kind of connection to be able t o communicate w i t h other members of a 'group w i t h weak relationships'. Romagnoli refined his vision o f t h e intended interaction:
Final design
A f t e r several iterations of p r o t o t y p i n g and testing, Romagnoli designed and built a bike light that winks and makes noises at oncoming bike traffic. Romagnoli iteratively worked on its visual and auditory expres-sion and sought to understand people's response t o it. P i c t u r e " I t s h o u l d be like a p e t t h a t m a k e s y o u i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e " T h e p r o t o t y p e o f R o m a g n o l i ' s f i n a l d e s i g n
Insights
During the last test Romagnoli c o n d u c t e d , most users enjoyed t h e interaction w i t h the p r o t o t y p e and appreciated t h e funny char-acter of concept expressed by the sounds. However, they also felt that a long conver-sation between t w o Winks might become annoying, and in some situations experi-enced as awkward. Some users pointed out that the design of the animation could be simplified to be more immediately readable - does it really need t o display an eye?
Urban Mobility / Personal P R O J E C T
'City
Exploration
Guide'
Facilitating
discovery of
the surround
ings during
one-off
leisure travel
s t u d e n t A l i n e v a n V l i e t Tutors D r . S t e l l a B o e s s , D r . - I n g . A n n a P o h l m e y e r C o u r s e E x p l o r i n g I n t e r a c t i o n s R o t t e r d a m E c o - l n n o v a t i o n L a b112
Personal / Urban Mobility
Key finding
"Abstract depictions encourage curiosity and discovery of Rotterdam for pedestrian leisure travellers coming f r o m the s t a t i o n . They enable them t o appreciate
the surroundings."
Focus
This project focused on pedestrian leisure exploration of an unfamiliar city, s t a r t i n g f r o m central station. Initial research revealed visitors' difficulties t o see the qualities of Rotterdam's physical environ-ment. This project sought t o encourage the visitors' curiosity towards it, t h r o u g h a new kind of tour or wayfinding. The t o u r i s t office could for example use it t o offer a different experience.
Intervention
The guiding idea is 'encouraged curiosity'. The concept should help users navigate by focusing on what surrounds t h e m . To understand navigation behavior, users were given various wayfinding assignments in Rotterdam.
Insights
In an unfamiliar environment, the demands of navigation limit your curiosity. Instruc-tions like 'left-right' prescribe a specific route, whereas 'warm-cold' fits a more explorative mood and encourages curiosity.
Intervention
An idea was to reassure visitors by enabling t h e m to always f i n d the station again. Various versions were p r o t o t y p e d and t e s t e d . For example, rainbow coloured concentric circles from the station are drawn in the city. Visitors get a card showing the colours. By spotting each colour in the environment they always know the direction of the central s t a t i o n . Van Vliet tested the idea in the faculty.
Insights
Users were able t o orient in t h e f a c u l t y w i t h its spaces and uni-colour surfaces. But it might not be conspicuous enough in a crowded city. And it did not encourage curiosity.
Intervention
A change in direction: f r o m leading people back t o the station, t o just encouraging their discovery of t h e city. Various proto-types were again t e s t e d in Rotterdam, now in the form of booklets w i t h images of buildings.
Users testing prototypes of booklets in Rotterdam t h a t encourage curiosity and exploration.
Insights
Users successfully navigated using images, and also became aware of t h e actual build-ings. A black-white sketch representation of a building is clear enough t o recognize and enhances the curiosity of the user towards its appearance and colors in real life. The users liked how this t y p e of depic-tion drew their attendepic-tion to t h e s t r u c t u r e of a building. For one user the experience was also like being on a scavenger hunt, a f u n challenge.
Final design
Fresh, striking colours on the f r o n t page of the booklet and the words ' f i n d your way', 'discover' and 'enjoy' were chosen t o a t t r a c t users and express the experience w i t h t h e booklet. The colours are contrasted w i t h t h e black and white sketches inside t h a t encourage users t o be curious about their surroundings.
