Beacon
Intuitive Maritime Navigation
Project Overview
For my senior thesis, I spent my final semester designing a product based on a topic I researched in-depth in the fall semester. Considering my personal experience sailing, I investigated why maritime navigation systems were underdeveloped in comparison to modern technologies. My discoveries prompted the need for a Multi-Functional Display (MFD) emphasizing intuitive design and user-centric focus.
Problem
Each year, thousands of boating accidents occur both domestically and internationally, among recreational users and professionals alike. In 2019, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) reported that out of the 4,168 total accidents, the leading contributing factors were operator inattention, improper lookout, and operator inexperience, respectively. While emphasis is often placed on the operator’s failure, the lack of design regarding human factors can be identified as a key issue through the research of all factors affecting the user experience.
Marine navigation is behind compared to other transportation industries such as aviation and road, specifically regarding the application of a coordinated and systemic approach to the use of modern technologies. The improper design of electronic navigation systems is considered a potential threat to human performance and an estimated one-third of all maritime accidents are due to poor equipment design. Many of the issues regarding human error, situation awareness, and poor design could be solved if human centered design practices were properly applied to maritime technology.
Total Reported Accidents: 3,099
Insights
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Interface should reflect modern design aesthetics, customs, and styles.
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Users should be able to intuitively locate controls for desired tasks.
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By minimizing information overload, operators should be able to navigate through device menus quickly and efficiently.
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Distractions are abundant in ship environments. The UI should help the operator focus.
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Users need navigational devices to adapt to the situation and intended task.
Opportunities
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Design a product with similar capabilities to mid-range and high end technology (such as Sonar/ Radar), but with simpler tools to lower costs, increase accessibility, and appeal to less frequent users.
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Design an interface for a maritime navigation or operation device which prioritizes the operator, likely use cases, and the operator’s situation awareness.
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Design a system which prioritizes teams of commercial users through the application of UI principles to the existing guidelines developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Research & Testing
Milestone 1
For user testing, I interviewed sailors with experience in navigation and asked them to “build their own display” based on which aspects they found the most useful and why.
Some functions, such as the display of a compass, were ranked favorably among all participants, while others such as map style varied depending on the user.
The greatest takeaway from testing was users should be able to customize what features are shown on the display as their needs change depending on their personal experience and intended use.
Milestone 2
My goal for this Milestone was to research and develop different map styles to optimize user’s mental models and perception of their environments.
Throughout the process of fabricating a prototype, I discovered that the ability to view and hide different layers allowed the ability to dictate data hierarchy and isolate visual information.
Milestone 3
My focus for this benchmark was to establish the intra-app navigation at a level that required minimal interaction but still allows the user to access all available functions.
The development of an onboarding system and chartplotting experience which reflects those of comporable transportation industries allowed me to clearly isolate and identify specific frames that users might overlook when attempting to complete a specific task.
User Journey
Establishing how a user might purchase, install, and use the interface at first glance.
Wireframe
Building out micro-interactions detailing each step of the navigation process.
Brand Identity
Chart Plotter
Users have the option to pick between 2D and 3D views, toggle data, and rotate view angles.
Intra-App Navigation
Users have the option to use the app guided process of navigating to their desired location, or can view environment conditions through search and toggle functions.
When the device first starts, a loading screen is displayed while the device collects location specific data for the user.
The display automatically loads their position with the preset filters.
The user searches their desired destination.
Beacon provides images, weather conditions, and reviews from other users.
Once the user selects "navigate" potential routes are displayed detailing likely conditions and hazards.
The user is able to change their navigation display through a series of toggle options.
Once the user arrives they are asked to provide feedback for future users and system optimization.
Display Monitor
The Multi-Functional display features rubberized toggle buttons to easily change views and prevent any potential weather conditions from interfering you the user’s ability to control the device.
Still, the touch screen ensures a wide variety of functions can be used especially as software is updated over time.
