GdAM

Interactive Design Group

Physical

Online

Mobile

Ubiquitous

Network

Research Phase 1

GdAM

Research Phase 1

Northeastern embraces “technology” and “interdisiplinary studies” as core values, yet there are so many missed opportunities for collaboration between disciplines...

GdAM

Research Phase 1

Northeastern embraces “technology” and “interdisiplinary studies” as core values, yet there are so many missed opportunities for collaboration between disciplines...

Much of the technology infrastructure is in place – it’s just not utilized to it’s full potential

GdAM

Research Phase 1

Northeastern embraces “technology” and “interdisiplinary studies” as core values, yet there are so many missed opportunities for collaboration between disciplines...

Much of the technology infrastructure is in place – it’s just not utilized to it’s full potential...

The University has leading industry experts from around the world, and ample human capital. All it needs is a reason...

GdAM

What Northeastern is currently doing with interactive wayfinding...

GdAM

The short answer is no. However, the potential for Northeastern to embrace interactivity and its ever growing possibilities is there. Northeastern has taken a few steps to look like the high tech university that they are. Unfortunately, they have come to a stop without taking full advantage of the possibilities.

The pictures to the left show a relatively new setup that Northeastern has put in the entrance sitting area of Dodge Hall, one of the main business buildings on campus. Two screens flank the sides of the area on pillars (lower left picture), and a large 2X2 screen set up (top left and bottom right) is centered at the sitting area. Along with these screens are 3 computer stations. Sadly, though they only allow the user to log into myNEU. The possibilities with this setup are numerous. While the screens themselves are not touch screens, there could be ways to implement a system where the user can chose what to display.

Interactivity and NortheasternDo we have it?

GdAM

By far an ineffective way to help people get from point A to point B. Right now the campus map is a static representation of the Northeastern campus. It tells the viewer where they are and then they need to search through the endless listings and find where they are going, and somehow remember it after the viewer has left the map.

At the very least it would be nice for a viewer to plot their course and then have a print out to carry with them at the campus map stations. However, there are many possibilities to bring outdated campus maps into the modern world.

Left, Northeastern campus map. Right, MIT campus map

Interactivity and NortheasternThe campus map...

GdAM

Northeastern’s online campus map is very outdated. It is not easily accessible, it is fairly confusing, and it is not quickly understood by most students.

This would be a quick and easy fix for Northeastern. It would be simple to link an interactive, online map to Google Maps in order to make wayfinding around campus much easier.

Interactive Web Featurescampus map

click for northeastern’s map

this is what we have

GdAM

Northeastern’s online web presence is not strong due to all of our school’s various colleges and programs of study hosting completely different web designs. From general studies, to journalism, to architecture - the designs of these sites are all incredibly inconsistent.

Interactive Web Featuresconsistent design between the websites of northeastern’s colleges

If time was taken to redesign the large umbrella of Northeastern’s websites in a much more consistent manner, our university would come across as much thorough, organized, and stable. This is imperative, especially for a university of Northeastern’s caliber.

GdAM

Northeastern’s student portal is severely outdated and lacking in many areas. It is also difficult to navigate and could benefit from a bit of a design facelift, so to speak. On top of that, there is really nothing available which could help students connect with one another in order to better campus life.

Interactive Web Features integration of social and creative networking

this is what we have

click for myneu

GdAM

“Discover Northeastern” uses a Google map combined with simple explaina-tions of building utilization. A good starting point, but many opportunities for improvement.

“Go Huskies” is the athletic department app. It has team scores, standings, links to articles, news photos, and even plays the “Husky Fight song” youTube video.

Currently: Mobile

GdAM

Home screen with instructions

Browsing the map, clicking on any building will give you the name.

Click on the arrow and get more information.

“Get directions” button takes you to a non-mobile version of the Northeastern website directions page.

GdAM

You can search for any buildings, but nothing else...

Clicking on “Social media” brings you to this screen, which simply links to the respective non-mobile sites.

You can browse through a few photos from the NU media catalogue

“Info” brings you here. All of the buttons link to external pages.

GdAM

What are some good examples of interactive wayfinding elsewhere?

GdAM

Northeastern is one of the top Boston schools, and a top school in the United States, but it fails to implement ideas and strategies that would reflect that. The MIT media lab is a new building on the MIT campus, and a quick stroll through the building shows that they are dedicated to finding new and innovative ways in media and technology.

The floors each have an interactive Samsung touch screens that lets the user see what workshops there are, and a sign up area for and the user so they then can drag and drop themselves into a slot. If Northeastern could implement a similar way to sign up for appointments and programs in the corresponding building, it would be far more efficient than setting up appointments that require waiting in a line or being on hold. Beyond that Northeastern needs to find ways to bring interactivity to their campus maps; online and on campus, and interactivity to buildings and the student body.

On-location Interactive Precedents

Implementing new ideas

GdAM

Many universities have already taken this step.Boston University’s campus map, for example, has not only linked with Google Maps but also displays multiple, useful features such as “parking lots” and “bike racks”. By merely checking and unchecking those options, the map will display where one can find those locations throughout campus.

Interactive Web Features

campus map

click for bu’s map

this is what is possible

GdAM

Interactive Web Features

integration of social and creative networking

There are many easy ways for Northeastern to fix these issues and make the student portal a much more exciting place to visit. By incorporating social and creative networking sites such as twitter and flickr, students could advertise for campus activities, post photos from events on campus, and share news and art with one another.

click for global college

GdAM

It would be an oversight not to mention the precedents set by GPS wayfinding – the first mobile interactive wayfinding tools. They set the bar for what applications now do.

Mobile: precedents

GdAM

http://www.acrossair.com/acros-sair_app_augmented_real-ity_nearestsubway_newyork_for_iPhone_3GS.htm

Developers from around the world have developed apps for wayfinding. They range from:

simple scrollable maps...

to (almost) ubiquitous computing.

iPhone apps

GdAM

http://www.davidsweeneydesign.com/project/wayfinding/

Using 2D barcodes, RFID technology, cameras, your cell phone and wikipedia – some interactive designers are making it easier for the blind to see...

Pathfinder: Wayfinding for the visually impaired

GdAM

And what possibilities does the future hold?

GdAM

What are the opportunities when our mobile devices can really communicate with each other and the environment around us? Are we there already?

Ubiquitous ComputingA vision of the future: Intel UMPC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzeiUvDZog

GdAM

What parts of our environment will be interactive, and how will they change the need for wayfinding activities?

The Human NetworkCisco (and Oglivy’s) Vision

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAdfYgEapT8

GdAM

The Path to Solutions?

Northeastern embraces “technology” and “interdisiplinary studies” as core values, yet there are so many missed opportunities for collaboration between disciplines...

Put the money where your mouth is. Universities have to embrace the change first – it can pay off economically.

Use the hardware we have and develop our own software.

Tap into research – use what we learn right here.

Much of the technology infrastructure is in place – it’s just not utilized to it’s full potential...

The University has leading industry experts from around the world, and ample human capital. All it needs is a reason...

GdAM

Questions?

GdAM

Research

4d social: interactive de-sign environmentsLucy Bullivant (ed)LinkInspiration for research into ubiquitous comput-ing

designworkplan.comSander Baumann LinkInsights into iPhone apps for wayfinding ans screenshots of the apps

David Sweeny DesignDavid SweenyLinkSection on Pathfinder – wayfinding for the ehar-ing impaired

Google MapsGoogle EarthGoogle SketchupLinkIt’s really inspirational if you think about it...

Boston University siteLinkGoogle-integrated cam-pus map possibilities

acrossair.com LinkSeeing the possibilities of augmented reality apps now... Screenshot and youtube video

MIT Media Lab LinkVisited for kiosk inspira-tion, research about in-teractive wayfinding for building maps

The Wayfinding Handbook David GibsonLinkOverview for research, specifically the overview of electronic media

and many more...