Brainstorming on social benefit
The first step of the project was to brainstorm with our design team on ideas of current social or personal problems we encounter. After exploring multiple ideas ranging from procrastination to unhealthy eating, we decided that we wanted to focus on the experiences we had as bicyclists in Pittsburgh.
Developing personas and initial storyboards
We then began thinking about the types of people who might travel by bike in Pittsburgh, and what concerns they may have traveling across the city. We thought about what types of rides these people might to do: be it a scenic route, a “safe" route, a fast route that avoids traffic, or a ride just for fun or exercise. We also thought about how some riders might want to ride with friends, or with new bike buddies going the same way. We developed storyboards with initial wireframes for a few of these personas, which explored how they might use safeRIDE.
Designing with data streams
We were then tasked with finding multiple "streams of live data” to pull from—these streams had to in some way drive the design of the application, and help us create a tailored solution for our users. We decided to pull data from Google’s map API, Garmin's rider data, Pittsburgh’s Crime Map, and Flickr’s photo mapping service.
safeRIDE takes shape
We designed and developed a more concise storyboard (below) describing how safeRIDE would work, which followed the story of Jen getting to school at Carnegie Mellon from her home. The story incorporates both the web and mobile elements of the design, which allow Jen to sign into safeRIDE, map her route to school, and get directions sent to her phone—which, in turn, help guide her on her ride to school. And then she uses the service to meet a new friend to ride home with after class.
Finalized design and deliverables
We then collaboratively finalized the interface, storyboard, website prototype, and safeRIDE video, which you can see, watch, and interact with below. The web interface first allows a rider to set her origin and destination addresses. It then provides options for her to set priorities for the ride—whether it be avoiding steep hills or construction sites, dangerous intersections, or areas of town that are less safe—or any combination thereof. The rider can also decide whether she wants safeRIDE to provide an "exercise," "quick commute," or "scenic" route to her destination. The ideal route based on these priorities is then mapped for the rider, using live data sourced from Google's map API, Garmin's rider data, Flickr's photostream, and Pittsburgh's crime and traffic maps.
The rider can then choose to send the mapped route to her phone, which will provide audio cues to direct her along her route. She can also use the service to meet other people to ride with, as well as upload her favorite rides to the site.
The safeRIDE video sketch:
