TTC Bus Info Display
This case study is centred on addressing the usability challenges associated with the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) existing Bus Info Display (BID), enhancing its overall effectiveness, and exploring potential opportunities.
This case study is centred on addressing the usability challenges associated with the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) existing Bus Info Display (BID), enhancing its overall effectiveness, and exploring potential opportunities.
AUTHOR CONDUCTED
Research, UX, UI Design
PLATFORM
Bus Info Display (BID)
PERIOD
2023 (June - July)
THE PROBLEM CONTEXT
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the city's local transit agency, operates the third-largest system in North America. The TTC boasts a diverse range of transit modes, including buses, streetcars, and subways, providing extensive coverage across the city.
Recently, TTC has introduced a new large digital LCD info display on their buses, replacing the smaller dot matrix LED displays. These new displays have the capability and room to show more information, including upcoming stops, estimated times of arrival (ETAs), and transcribing announcements. However, some usability aspects of the new system have caused frustration among commuters. Moreover, there are untapped opportunities to leverage the existing Bus Info Display (BID) to offer more value to the commuters. This case study examines usability issues experienced by commuters and proposes solutions informed by established heuristics, mental models, and psychological principles.
The TTC's Existing Bus Info Display (BID)
THE RESEARCH
Usability issues with the existing Bus Info Display (BID) were identified through field studies conducted by commuting on regular and express route buses and interviewing 9 commuters of various demographics.
THE CASE STUDY
The User Interface
PROBLEM & OPPORTUNITY
The User Interface (UI) of the Bus Info Display (BID) system serves as a vital source of information, providing crucial updates about bus stops, next stops, stop request status and other essential detail. For commuters, this information is more than just data; it's a guide that helps them navigate their journeys efficiently and make informed decisions.
The Existing Bus Info Display (BID) User Interface
Based on the research the following findings were observed with regards to the existing UI:
Single Info: The current BID shows only one piece of information as header text at a time (next stop, operator ID, or stop request status).
Attentiveness Struggle: Commuters struggle to stay attentive to the header because each piece of crucial information remains visible for about 5 seconds before fading to reveal the next.
In addition to these observations, commuters offered valuable comments:
They suggested that time estimates for the next stops were unnecessary, especially on these buses with frequent stops. The short intervals between stops made time estimates less meaningful. Instead, they proposed utilizing this space to provide valuable information such as details about accessible stop facilities and transfer options.
Comparison of Existing and Redesigned Screens
The goals of the screen's redesign include:
Empower Commuters: Provide commuters with standout, relevant information leveraging the 'Von Restorff Effect'.
Organize Information: Leverage visual hierarchy using 'Gestalt' principles for easy access and comprehension.
Improve Understanding: Enable swift information interpretation, aligned with 'Gestalt' principles and continuity, for informed decision-making during the journey.
Enhance Relevance: Replace ETAs in the BID with more pertinent features such as transfer options and accessible stop facilities.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Von Restorff Effect
By using a contrasting background color, enlarging the font size, and strategically placing it, immediate attention can be drawn to the crucial information through the Von Restorff Effect. With these techniques, the 'Next Stop Information' becomes visually distinct, ensuring that passengers promptly notice it without any difficulty.
Gestalt Principle
By incorporating Gestalt principles, the transfer bus details and accessible stop information can be presented in a visually organized and coherent manner alongside upcoming stops. Applying the Law of Proximity ensures that related information is positioned together, while the Law of Similarity uses consistent visual cues for easy recognition. The Law of Continuity ensures a smooth flow as passengers scroll through stops, and the Law of Closure ensures comprehensive details for each stop. The BIDs' interface design differentiates between upcoming stops as the main focus and supporting transfer and accessibility information, enhancing passengers' understanding and decision-making during their journey.
The User Interface
PROBLEM & OPPORTUNITY
The User Interface (UI) of the Bus Info Display (BID) system serves as a vital source of information, providing crucial updates about bus stops, next stops, stop request status and other essential detail. For commuters, this information is more than just data; it's a guide that helps them navigate their journeys efficiently and make informed decisions.
The Existing Bus Info Display (BID) User Interface
Based on the research the following findings were observed with regards to the existing UI:
Single Info: The current BID shows only one piece of information as header text at a time (next stop, operator ID, or stop request status).
Attentiveness Struggle: Commuters struggle to stay attentive to the header because each piece of crucial information remains visible for about 5 seconds before fading to reveal the next.
In addition to these observations, commuters offered valuable comments:
They suggested that time estimates for the next stops were unnecessary, especially on these buses with frequent stops. The short intervals between stops made time estimates less meaningful. Instead, they proposed utilizing this space to provide valuable information such as details about accessible stop facilities and transfer options.
Comparison of Existing and Redesigned Screens
The goals of the screen's redesign include:
Empower Commuters: Provide commuters with standout, relevant information leveraging the 'Von Restorff Effect'.
Organize Information: Leverage visual hierarchy using 'Gestalt' principles for easy access and comprehension.
Improve Understanding: Enable swift information interpretation, aligned with 'Gestalt' principles and continuity, for informed decision-making during the journey.
Enhance Relevance: Replace ETAs in the BID with more pertinent features such as transfer options and accessible stop facilities.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Von Restorff Effect
By using a contrasting background color, enlarging the font size, and strategically placing it, immediate attention can be drawn to the crucial information through the Von Restorff Effect. With these techniques, the 'Next Stop Information' becomes visually distinct, ensuring that passengers promptly notice it without any difficulty.
Gestalt Principle
By incorporating Gestalt principles, the transfer bus details and accessible stop information can be presented in a visually organized and coherent manner alongside upcoming stops. Applying the Law of Proximity ensures that related information is positioned together, while the Law of Similarity uses consistent visual cues for easy recognition. The Law of Continuity ensures a smooth flow as passengers scroll through stops, and the Law of Closure ensures comprehensive details for each stop. The BIDs' interface design differentiates between upcoming stops as the main focus and supporting transfer and accessibility information, enhancing passengers' understanding and decision-making during their journey.
The User Interface
PROBLEM & OPPORTUNITY
The User Interface (UI) of the Bus Info Display (BID) system serves as a vital source of information, providing crucial updates about bus stops, next stops, stop request status and other essential detail. For commuters, this information is more than just data; it's a guide that helps them navigate their journeys efficiently and make informed decisions.
The Existing Bus Info Display (BID) User Interface
Based on the research the following findings were observed with regards to the existing UI:
Single Info: The current BID shows only one piece of information as header text at a time (next stop, operator ID, or stop request status).
Attentiveness Struggle: Commuters struggle to stay attentive to the header because each piece of crucial information remains visible for about 5 seconds before fading to reveal the next.
In addition to these observations, commuters offered valuable comments:
They suggested that time estimates for the next stops were unnecessary, especially on these buses with frequent stops. The short intervals between stops made time estimates less meaningful. Instead, they proposed utilizing this space to provide valuable information such as details about accessible stop facilities and transfer options.
Comparison of Existing and Redesigned Screens
The goals of the screen's redesign include:
Empower Commuters: Provide commuters with standout, relevant information leveraging the 'Von Restorff Effect'.
Organize Information: Leverage visual hierarchy using 'Gestalt' principles for easy access and comprehension.
Improve Understanding: Enable swift information interpretation, aligned with 'Gestalt' principles and continuity, for informed decision-making during the journey.
Enhance Relevance: Replace ETAs in the BID with more pertinent features such as transfer options and accessible stop facilities.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Von Restorff Effect
By using a contrasting background color, enlarging the font size, and strategically placing it, immediate attention can be drawn to the crucial information through the Von Restorff Effect. With these techniques, the 'Next Stop Information' becomes visually distinct, ensuring that passengers promptly notice it without any difficulty.
Gestalt Principle
By incorporating Gestalt principles, the transfer bus details and accessible stop information can be presented in a visually organized and coherent manner alongside upcoming stops. Applying the Law of Proximity ensures that related information is positioned together, while the Law of Similarity uses consistent visual cues for easy recognition. The Law of Continuity ensures a smooth flow as passengers scroll through stops, and the Law of Closure ensures comprehensive details for each stop. The BIDs' interface design differentiates between upcoming stops as the main focus and supporting transfer and accessibility information, enhancing passengers' understanding and decision-making during their journey.
The Stop Request
PROBLEM
The Stop Request feature may seem small, but it plays a crucial role in the seamless operation of public transit systems and contributes to passenger satisfaction. Understanding when a passenger intends to disembark enables bus operators to plan stops more effectively, ensuring passengers are not missed or left waiting.
The Existing Stop Request Animation
BIDs play a crucial role in confirming to passengers that their stop request has been received or needs to be made. However, the current BID does not effectively fulfill this objective due to several reasons:
Delayed Feedback: There is a delay in visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, which results in cognitive dissonance and uncertainty among passengers.
Reliability Issues: The frequent replacement of the stop request prompt in the header with other information undermines its reliability, causing confusion.
Attention Struggle: Commuters need to pay excessive attention to notice transitions between the current and next stops for requesting upcoming stops, leading to frustration.
The Redesigned Stop Request Animation
To address these problems, the redesign objectives were defined:
Capture Attention: Utilize visually appealing designs and organized layouts to capture passengers' attention when necessary, in line with the 'Aesthetic Usability' principle.
Clear Confirmation: Implement prominent static visual cues to maintain continuous visibility of stop request confirmations.
Enhance Noticeability: Incorporate subtle motion transitions to improve noticeability and reduce cognitive effort, aligning with the principle of 'Motion Attracts Attention'.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort experienced when there is a conflict between a person's expectation and reality. In the context of the delay in receiving visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, passengers expect immediate confirmation from the display. However, the delay creates a discrepancy, leading to uncertainty about their stop request status. This can cause frustration and anxiety. To enhance the passenger experience, it is essential to minimize delays in visual feedback, ensuring prompt and consistent confirmation and reducing the cognitive dissonance associated with any delays.
Motion Attracts Attention
'Motion attracts attention', a psychological principle, states that movement in a visual scene naturally captures people's focus. By incorporating subtle motion transitions during information changes in BID, such as the confirmation of a stop request, users' attention is effortlessly drawn to the changing element. The visual salience of motion ensures quick recognition of the confirmation, reducing the chance of missing it. This attention capture reduces cognitive effort as passengers effortlessly locate the updated information, reassuring them of the successful stop request and enhancing trust in the system.
Aesthetic Usability Effect
The aesthetic usability effect suggests that visually pleasing designs are perceived as more usable and efficient. In the case of BID, a visually appealing and well-organized layout attracts passengers' attention. Elements like clean graphics, attractive colors, and thoughtful typography make the display visually attractive, encouraging users to engage with the information. The well-organized layout ensures that important details, like the stop request confirmation, are easy to find, reducing cognitive load. The prominent static visual signifier, such as a distinctive icon or colour indicator, ensures continuous visibility of the confirmation, providing passengers with constant reassurance.
The Stop Request
PROBLEM
The Stop Request feature may seem small, but it plays a crucial role in the seamless operation of public transit systems and contributes to passenger satisfaction. Understanding when a passenger intends to disembark enables bus operators to plan stops more effectively, ensuring passengers are not missed or left waiting.
The Existing Stop Request Animation
BIDs play a crucial role in confirming to passengers that their stop request has been received or needs to be made. However, the current BID does not effectively fulfill this objective due to several reasons:
Delayed Feedback: There is a delay in visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, which results in cognitive dissonance and uncertainty among passengers.
Reliability Issues: The frequent replacement of the stop request prompt in the header with other information undermines its reliability, causing confusion.
Attention Struggle: Commuters need to pay excessive attention to notice transitions between the current and next stops for requesting upcoming stops, leading to frustration.
The Redesigned Stop Request Animation
To address these problems, the redesign objectives were defined:
Capture Attention: Utilize visually appealing designs and organized layouts to capture passengers' attention when necessary, in line with the 'Aesthetic Usability' principle.
Clear Confirmation: Implement prominent static visual cues to maintain continuous visibility of stop request confirmations.
Enhance Noticeability: Incorporate subtle motion transitions to improve noticeability and reduce cognitive effort, aligning with the principle of 'Motion Attracts Attention'.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort experienced when there is a conflict between a person's expectation and reality. In the context of the delay in receiving visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, passengers expect immediate confirmation from the display. However, the delay creates a discrepancy, leading to uncertainty about their stop request status. This can cause frustration and anxiety. To enhance the passenger experience, it is essential to minimize delays in visual feedback, ensuring prompt and consistent confirmation and reducing the cognitive dissonance associated with any delays.
Motion Attracts Attention
'Motion attracts attention', a psychological principle, states that movement in a visual scene naturally captures people's focus. By incorporating subtle motion transitions during information changes in BID, such as the confirmation of a stop request, users' attention is effortlessly drawn to the changing element. The visual salience of motion ensures quick recognition of the confirmation, reducing the chance of missing it. This attention capture reduces cognitive effort as passengers effortlessly locate the updated information, reassuring them of the successful stop request and enhancing trust in the system.
Aesthetic Usability Effect
The aesthetic usability effect suggests that visually pleasing designs are perceived as more usable and efficient. In the case of BID, a visually appealing and well-organized layout attracts passengers' attention. Elements like clean graphics, attractive colors, and thoughtful typography make the display visually attractive, encouraging users to engage with the information. The well-organized layout ensures that important details, like the stop request confirmation, are easy to find, reducing cognitive load. The prominent static visual signifier, such as a distinctive icon or colour indicator, ensures continuous visibility of the confirmation, providing passengers with constant reassurance.
The Stop Request
PROBLEM
The Stop Request feature may seem small, but it plays a crucial role in the seamless operation of public transit systems and contributes to passenger satisfaction. Understanding when a passenger intends to disembark enables bus operators to plan stops more effectively, ensuring passengers are not missed or left waiting.
The Existing Stop Request Animation
BIDs play a crucial role in confirming to passengers that their stop request has been received or needs to be made. However, the current BID does not effectively fulfill this objective due to several reasons:
Delayed Feedback: There is a delay in visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, which results in cognitive dissonance and uncertainty among passengers.
Reliability Issues: The frequent replacement of the stop request prompt in the header with other information undermines its reliability, causing confusion.
Attention Struggle: Commuters need to pay excessive attention to notice transitions between the current and next stops for requesting upcoming stops, leading to frustration.
The Redesigned Stop Request Animation
To address these problems, the redesign objectives were defined:
Capture Attention: Utilize visually appealing designs and organized layouts to capture passengers' attention when necessary, in line with the 'Aesthetic Usability' principle.
Clear Confirmation: Implement prominent static visual cues to maintain continuous visibility of stop request confirmations.
Enhance Noticeability: Incorporate subtle motion transitions to improve noticeability and reduce cognitive effort, aligning with the principle of 'Motion Attracts Attention'.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort experienced when there is a conflict between a person's expectation and reality. In the context of the delay in receiving visual feedback after pressing the request stop button, passengers expect immediate confirmation from the display. However, the delay creates a discrepancy, leading to uncertainty about their stop request status. This can cause frustration and anxiety. To enhance the passenger experience, it is essential to minimize delays in visual feedback, ensuring prompt and consistent confirmation and reducing the cognitive dissonance associated with any delays.
Motion Attracts Attention
'Motion attracts attention', a psychological principle, states that movement in a visual scene naturally captures people's focus. By incorporating subtle motion transitions during information changes in BID, such as the confirmation of a stop request, users' attention is effortlessly drawn to the changing element. The visual salience of motion ensures quick recognition of the confirmation, reducing the chance of missing it. This attention capture reduces cognitive effort as passengers effortlessly locate the updated information, reassuring them of the successful stop request and enhancing trust in the system.
Aesthetic Usability Effect
The aesthetic usability effect suggests that visually pleasing designs are perceived as more usable and efficient. In the case of BID, a visually appealing and well-organized layout attracts passengers' attention. Elements like clean graphics, attractive colors, and thoughtful typography make the display visually attractive, encouraging users to engage with the information. The well-organized layout ensures that important details, like the stop request confirmation, are easy to find, reducing cognitive load. The prominent static visual signifier, such as a distinctive icon or colour indicator, ensures continuous visibility of the confirmation, providing passengers with constant reassurance.
The Announcement Feature
PROBLEM
The announcement feature in the Bus Information Display (BID) is a vital component that enables bus operators to broadcast pre-programmed announcements to passengers using both audio and visual cues. This feature is of paramount importance for enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in public transportation. These cues serve as vital aids to passengers with various needs, ensuring that everyone can easily access important information during their journey. Whether it's visual notifications for passengers with hearing impairments or auditory announcements for those with visual impairments, this feature plays a pivotal role in making public transit more accommodating and user-friendly for all commuters.
The Existing Announcement Feature Animation
Why the existing announcement feature may be failing its purpose:
Challenging Comprehension: The current BID provides transcripts for pre-defined announcements, but the lengthy lines of text can be daunting for some users.
High Cognitive Load: Tracking moving text on a bus in motion demands significant cognitive effort. Many commuters find the current way of displaying transcript challenging.
The Redesigned Announcement Feature Animation
The goals of the revamped display were:
Boost Comprehension: Enhance overall understanding of announcements using the 'Dual Coding Theory'.
Enhance Visibility: Employ 'Von Restorff Effect' to make announcements more noticeable, ensuring quick identification of vital information.
Minimize Cognitive Load: Ensure continuous visibility and reduce cognitive effort to improve comprehension and accessibility.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Dual Coding Theory
Dual coding theory suggests that humans process information using verbal and visual mental codes. Incorporating a pictogram alongside the announcement transcript in the BID can improve communication in multiple ways. It enhances comprehension by catering to different learning styles and draws passengers' attention, increasing engagement. The dual coding approach reduces cognitive load, making it easier for passengers to process and remember the information.
Von Restorff Effect
The Von Restorff effect, a psychological phenomenon, suggests that distinct and unique items are more likely to be noticed and remembered. Applying this principle to announcement transcripts can significantly improve their visibility and readability. By using bold text and vibrant background colour or visually distinctive elements, the announcement transcript stands out from other content, attracting passengers' attention. This distinctiveness enhances readability, allowing passengers to quickly locate and read the information without being overwhelmed by surrounding content.
The Announcement Feature
PROBLEM
The announcement feature in the Bus Information Display (BID) is a vital component that enables bus operators to broadcast pre-programmed announcements to passengers using both audio and visual cues. This feature is of paramount importance for enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in public transportation. These cues serve as vital aids to passengers with various needs, ensuring that everyone can easily access important information during their journey. Whether it's visual notifications for passengers with hearing impairments or auditory announcements for those with visual impairments, this feature plays a pivotal role in making public transit more accommodating and user-friendly for all commuters.
The Existing Announcement Feature Animation
Why the existing announcement feature may be failing its purpose:
Challenging Comprehension: The current BID provides transcripts for pre-defined announcements, but the lengthy lines of text can be daunting for some users.
High Cognitive Load: Tracking moving text on a bus in motion demands significant cognitive effort. Many commuters find the current way of displaying transcript challenging.
The Redesigned Announcement Feature Animation
The goals of the revamped display were:
Boost Comprehension: Enhance overall understanding of announcements using the 'Dual Coding Theory'.
Enhance Visibility: Employ 'Von Restorff Effect' to make announcements more noticeable, ensuring quick identification of vital information.
Minimize Cognitive Load: Ensure continuous visibility and reduce cognitive effort to improve comprehension and accessibility.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Dual Coding Theory
Dual coding theory suggests that humans process information using verbal and visual mental codes. Incorporating a pictogram alongside the announcement transcript in the BID can improve communication in multiple ways. It enhances comprehension by catering to different learning styles and draws passengers' attention, increasing engagement. The dual coding approach reduces cognitive load, making it easier for passengers to process and remember the information.
Von Restorff Effect
The Von Restorff effect, a psychological phenomenon, suggests that distinct and unique items are more likely to be noticed and remembered. Applying this principle to announcement transcripts can significantly improve their visibility and readability. By using bold text and vibrant background colour or visually distinctive elements, the announcement transcript stands out from other content, attracting passengers' attention. This distinctiveness enhances readability, allowing passengers to quickly locate and read the information without being overwhelmed by surrounding content.
The Announcement Feature
PROBLEM
The announcement feature in the Bus Information Display (BID) is a vital component that enables bus operators to broadcast pre-programmed announcements to passengers using both audio and visual cues. This feature is of paramount importance for enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in public transportation. These cues serve as vital aids to passengers with various needs, ensuring that everyone can easily access important information during their journey. Whether it's visual notifications for passengers with hearing impairments or auditory announcements for those with visual impairments, this feature plays a pivotal role in making public transit more accommodating and user-friendly for all commuters.
The Existing Announcement Feature Animation
Why the existing announcement feature may be failing its purpose:
Challenging Comprehension: The current BID provides transcripts for pre-defined announcements, but the lengthy lines of text can be daunting for some users.
High Cognitive Load: Tracking moving text on a bus in motion demands significant cognitive effort. Many commuters find the current way of displaying transcript challenging.
The Redesigned Announcement Feature Animation
The goals of the revamped display were:
Boost Comprehension: Enhance overall understanding of announcements using the 'Dual Coding Theory'.
Enhance Visibility: Employ 'Von Restorff Effect' to make announcements more noticeable, ensuring quick identification of vital information.
Minimize Cognitive Load: Ensure continuous visibility and reduce cognitive effort to improve comprehension and accessibility.
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Dual Coding Theory
Dual coding theory suggests that humans process information using verbal and visual mental codes. Incorporating a pictogram alongside the announcement transcript in the BID can improve communication in multiple ways. It enhances comprehension by catering to different learning styles and draws passengers' attention, increasing engagement. The dual coding approach reduces cognitive load, making it easier for passengers to process and remember the information.
Von Restorff Effect
The Von Restorff effect, a psychological phenomenon, suggests that distinct and unique items are more likely to be noticed and remembered. Applying this principle to announcement transcripts can significantly improve their visibility and readability. By using bold text and vibrant background colour or visually distinctive elements, the announcement transcript stands out from other content, attracting passengers' attention. This distinctiveness enhances readability, allowing passengers to quickly locate and read the information without being overwhelmed by surrounding content.
Service Alerts & Advertising Space
OPPORTUNITY
Although the Bus Information Display (BID) currently provides essential information, there is untapped potential in utilizing the extra available screen space. The integration of service alerts and advertising features within the BID represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the commuting experience further.
The Service Alerts Info Included in the Bus Info Display (BID)
The major benefits of these additions are:
Providing Service Alerts: Displaying service alerts can prime passengers for potential changes in their travel plans. This mental readiness can help them adjust their expectations and plan their journey more effectively, ultimately leading to a smoother transit experience.
Advertising Opportunities: The surplus space on the information display can also serve as a platform for advertising, creating an additional revenue stream. By offering this space to businesses, public transit agencies can secure supplementary funds to enhance the quality and reliability of services for commuters. This not only supports a better transit experience but also generates a 'Snowball Effect' by improving overall services.
The Advertisement Space Included in the Bus Info Display
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Priming
By displaying relevant service alerts, the BID leverages the priming effect to improve the passengers' transit experience. Seeing these alerts activates relevant concepts in their minds, helping them mentally prepare for potential changes in their travel plans. This adjustment of expectations allows for more effective journey planning, as passengers can consider alternatives in advance.
Snowball Effect
Utilizing the extra space on BID for advertising initiates a snowball effect of positive outcomes. By offering advertising space, public transit agencies generate additional revenue, enabling them to invest in service enhancements and technological upgrades. As services improve, the display becomes more attractive to advertisers, leading to increased revenue and continued improvements. This positive feedback loop results in a better transit experience for commuters, creating a cycle of continuous growth and betterment.
Service Alerts & Advertising Space
OPPORTUNITY
Although the Bus Information Display (BID) currently provides essential information, there is untapped potential in utilizing the extra available screen space. The integration of service alerts and advertising features within the BID represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the commuting experience further.
The Service Alerts Info Included in the Bus Info Display (BID)
The major benefits of these additions are:
Providing Service Alerts: Displaying service alerts can prime passengers for potential changes in their travel plans. This mental readiness can help them adjust their expectations and plan their journey more effectively, ultimately leading to a smoother transit experience.
Advertising Opportunities: The surplus space on the information display can also serve as a platform for advertising, creating an additional revenue stream. By offering this space to businesses, public transit agencies can secure supplementary funds to enhance the quality and reliability of services for commuters. This not only supports a better transit experience but also generates a 'Snowball Effect' by improving overall services.
The Advertisement Space Included in the Bus Info Display
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Priming
By displaying relevant service alerts, the BID leverages the priming effect to improve the passengers' transit experience. Seeing these alerts activates relevant concepts in their minds, helping them mentally prepare for potential changes in their travel plans. This adjustment of expectations allows for more effective journey planning, as passengers can consider alternatives in advance.
Snowball Effect
Utilizing the extra space on BID for advertising initiates a snowball effect of positive outcomes. By offering advertising space, public transit agencies generate additional revenue, enabling them to invest in service enhancements and technological upgrades. As services improve, the display becomes more attractive to advertisers, leading to increased revenue and continued improvements. This positive feedback loop results in a better transit experience for commuters, creating a cycle of continuous growth and betterment.
Service Alerts & Advertising Space
OPPORTUNITY
Although the Bus Information Display (BID) currently provides essential information, there is untapped potential in utilizing the extra available screen space. The integration of service alerts and advertising features within the BID represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the commuting experience further.
The Service Alerts Info Included in the Bus Info Display (BID)
The major benefits of these additions are:
Providing Service Alerts: Displaying service alerts can prime passengers for potential changes in their travel plans. This mental readiness can help them adjust their expectations and plan their journey more effectively, ultimately leading to a smoother transit experience.
Advertising Opportunities: The surplus space on the information display can also serve as a platform for advertising, creating an additional revenue stream. By offering this space to businesses, public transit agencies can secure supplementary funds to enhance the quality and reliability of services for commuters. This not only supports a better transit experience but also generates a 'Snowball Effect' by improving overall services.
The Advertisement Space Included in the Bus Info Display
🧠
PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS
Priming
By displaying relevant service alerts, the BID leverages the priming effect to improve the passengers' transit experience. Seeing these alerts activates relevant concepts in their minds, helping them mentally prepare for potential changes in their travel plans. This adjustment of expectations allows for more effective journey planning, as passengers can consider alternatives in advance.
Snowball Effect
Utilizing the extra space on BID for advertising initiates a snowball effect of positive outcomes. By offering advertising space, public transit agencies generate additional revenue, enabling them to invest in service enhancements and technological upgrades. As services improve, the display becomes more attractive to advertisers, leading to increased revenue and continued improvements. This positive feedback loop results in a better transit experience for commuters, creating a cycle of continuous growth and betterment.
THE OUTRO
The Redesigned Bus Info Display
Improving the Bus Information Display (BID) can contribute to far-reaching benefits. A well-designed BID enhances the commuter experience, making public transit more appealing and convenient, which leads to increased ridership and a shift from private vehicles, ultimately reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, an efficient public transit system attracts businesses and fosters economic development while promoting equitable mobility for all members of the community, ensuring that everyone can access information effectively, thus advancing inclusivity. These positive outcomes create a virtuous cycle that reinforces the importance of public transportation as a key driver of community well-being and environmental sustainability.
ITERATIONS
REFERENCES
▸ Norman, D. (2013). The design of everyday things: Revised and Expanded Edition. Constellation
▸ Wikipedia contributors. (2023). List of cognitive biases. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases
▸ MSc, O. G. (2023). Snowball effect in psychology. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/snowball-effect.html
▸ Structural Learning. (2023). Dual Coding: A Teacher’s guide. Structural Learning. https://www.structural-learning.com/post/dual-coding-a-teachers-guide
▸ Kalbach, J. (n.d.). Design dissonance: When form and function collide :: UXMatters. UXmatters. https://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2013/02/design-dissonance-when-form-and-function-collide.php
▸ Tomboc, K. (2023, March 29). Gestalt design principles. UsabilityHub. https://usabilityhub.com/blog/gestalt-design-principles
▸ Priming - The Decision Lab. (n.d.). The Decision Lab. https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/priming
▸ Yablonski, J. (n.d.). Home | Laws of UX. Laws of UX. https://lawsofux.com/
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