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The Smart Navigation System for Tourists aims to develop a user-friendly system that assists travelers in navigating unfamiliar territories. Designed for integration into cell phones or as a standalone device, this system provides real-time directions and local transport options. Through user studies focused on foreign tourists, we identified common challenges such as language barriers, transportation confusion, and the need for locally relevant information. By addressing these issues, we enhance the travel experience, ensuring tourists can confidently explore new cities without fear of getting lost.
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Mooshir Vahanvati Nagraj .K. Palwencha Parag Agarwal Nikhil C. Rao M. Sreekant Personal Navigation Systemfor Tourists
Problem Definition • Develop a system that provides the information ‘how to go from one place to another’ to a tourist. • This system can be embedded in a cell phone or we can build a new palm device.
Definitions • tour·istn. • One who travels for pleasure. • nav·i·ga·tionn. • The theory and practice of navigating, especially the charting of a course, • in·for·ma·tionn. • Knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication; intelligence or news. • A collection of facts or data: statistical information. • The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge.
Redefining and Understanding the Problem • Expected User Types • Foreign tourists • Very little familiarity with the country, language and city • Indian tourists • Can understand the language; fair amount of familiarity with the means of transport available • Expected Age Bands • ~20 years • Young; Ba{ck}{g}(?)-packers • Comfortable with any form of transport • ~35+ years • Hired transport preferred
Focus Group • Conducted user studies involving ~12 people • ‘Foreign tourists’ is our focus group • More challenging problems (from a design point of view) • More likely to go in for such a device because of feeling of isolation • Unfamiliarity with the local language
User Study • Carren, 23 • Sweden • College graduate • Not a frequent traveller • Does not carry her mobile on vacation • Prefers taxis to trains, buses • Cumbersome to figure out which bus/train to catch
User Study • Suk Joe, 24 • Korea • Graduate student • 4 days in Mumbai • First time traveler • Incompatible mobile phone • Broken English makes it difficult to communicate • Travels by taxi • Cheated by taxi drivers • Would like to travel by bus/train if more information were available
User Study • D. Haynes, 38 • Germany • Yoga Teacher • 4 days in Mumbai • Frequent traveller • Uses mobile as a storage device • Likes walking; has used taxis, buses and trains • Cheated by taxi drivers many times
Inference from User Studies • Stay in Mumbai for a short time (3-5 days) • Interacting with locals usually a problem for those not well-versed in English • Macro-planning is done through the internet (www.lonelyplanet.com) and from asking friends • Micro-planning (local travel plans) are made by asking Hotel receptionists and by referring to guide books
Inference from User Studies • Taxi is the most preferred medium of transportation – but mainly because of lack of information about other media • Understanding bus numbers was a common problem among foreign tourists • Restricted to South Bombay because of lack of information about other areas (Bandra!) • Mobiles mostly used as a storage device
Persona • Marc Peugot, 26 • France • In Mumbai for 4 days • Does not know any Indian language; not too comfortable with English • High school math teacher • Did not bring his mobile to India • Uses a travel guide and a map of Bombay to travel • Prefers taxis and autos because he does not know about trains and buses • Does not understand taxi meters • Does not like to ask for help; believes in doing things on his own
Problem Scenario 0830, January 9th(Monday) • Marc wakes up and has breakfast. The Mumbai Festival is going on and the Hotel provides him with a schedule of the days events • He looks at his map of Mumbai and locates the places on the Map • Marc marks events that interest him and off he goes to the city
Problem Scenario 0930 • He catches an auto-rickshaw and asks him to take him to town! Little does he know that these “funny” vehicles do not travel to his intended destination 1025 • The auto driver drops him off at the Sion station, citing some engine problem • He suggests Marc take a taxi to the NCPA and says that it is only a couple of minutes away
Problem Scenario 1035 • Poor Marc is forced to take a taxi; and to make things worse, he is stuck in bumper to bumper traffic
Problem Scenario 1210 • He finally reaches the NCPA for the Exhibition; bad luck Marc! It is too late… they just closed the gates • If only he had gotten here a little earlier!!
Problem Scenario 1245 • He finds a place to eat near the NCPA and revises his itinerary for the rest of the day • Next in line, the dance performance at Kala Ghoda at 1:30
Problem Scenario 1315 • Frustrated from his traveling experience so far, he resorts to asking the restaurant proprietor for directions to Kala Ghoda • The proprietor gives him directions but Marc gets lost because he doesn’t know the nuances of street nomenclature in Bombay… oops, Mumbai!
Problem Scenario 1355 • Finally, Marc gets to Kala Ghoda. He has missed a couple of performances already and quickly takes his seat 1630 • The entertaining dance performance comes to an end. Next stop, the famous Gateway of India! • Luckily for Marc, he finds a small group of French tourists who are with a local guide. He joins them as they stroll down to the Gateway of India • Marc spends the evening at the Gateway of India with his new friends!
Problem Scenario 1750 • It is time to head back to the hotel; The guide suggests he take bus number 28 to Churchgate station and go to Andheri by train 1800 • Marc arrives at a bus stop but can’t understand the numbers as they are in Marathi! • Frustrated, he decides to take a taxi to the station
Problem Scenario 1820 • On reaching the station, the driver beckons him to pay more than the meter reading • Reluctantly, Marc agrees and makes his way to the ticket counter to buy his ticket
Problem Scenario 1830 • Marc is caught in rush hour traffic and with what seems to be a humungous effort, gets into the crowded train 2000 • He is back in his room and is exhausted from his traveling!
Design Considerations • Affordability • Multilingual and graphic in nature • ‘Zero Learning Curve’ • Small, light and robust • Online service (connectivity to GSM network)
Acknowledgements We thank Prof. Anirudha Joshi and our TA, Timma Reddy. Thank you!
