Interaction Design, Project Two, Blog Six

For this project I have been wanting to create something fairly simple, as I think for this app that is what is ultimately required, as generally most people using this app will only need to use this at the beginning of each semester mainly in first year when they don't know their way around the campus. Thus in terms on the navigation element they need something really simple and easy to use due to its most likely limited use.

 

Going with this idea I have again simplified my idea down, taking the idea of a watch or ring pointing the way which we used in a collaborative idea disscusion last class. Except instead of having an external object it would just be an animated arrow on the app which points where you need to go, step by step. For my design concept I am thinkinh of just using an arrow for everything, as it is a simple symbol which we associate with direction.

 

I created the images below in Flash as a possible interface.

The top arrow is all that would appear on screen. It has a possible app name on it. Then once the user presses the arrow it extends into the arrow below the top one. In this arrow you then type the room number or place name. The tip of the arrow would then indicate for you to press it once the room number is entered, then the arrow would move and point in the direction you need to head.

Here are four different instances of the directional arrow. The arrow would turn red when the user is heading in the wrong direction.

If the screen is is touched in directional mode, a side menu will appear as shown in the image above. So far I have thought of three features being conditions, audio and actual map. In terms of audio, I think the app will rely more heavily on the audio than the actual arrow, but I think both are necessary in covering up boths possible limitations.

This is a possible look of the conditions feature. The green panel it's presented on would appear as an arrow.

In terms of the apps visual design, I would like the arrows to move in with fluid movements when transitioning between screens. I want this as I find this makes virtual interfaces much more awesome. For example I think minimising applications on MacOSX is very successful when the windows condense down into the bottom of the screen.

Another idea I would like to include from the collaborative app we came up with in class is the idea of a game. For this current arrow idea I think it could be a great feature if you were able to shake your smart phone and the directional arrow turned into a arrow like snake which you could play the game Snake with, just like the loading animation on Youtube.