The Product
In Maryland where users live in reference to the 695 highway can have a drastic impact on commute time daily up to 15 minutes. Planning your daily commute can be difficult without knowing what is happening in your neighborhood. Users need an accessible responsive site that allows them to choose what local news is relevant to them and their commute.
Project Timeline September 2022-October 2022
The Product
In Maryland where users live in reference to the 695 highway can have a drastic impact on commute time daily up to 15 minutes. Planning your daily commute can be difficult without knowing what is happening in your neighborhood. Users need an accessible responsive site that allows them to choose what local news is relevant to them and their commute.
Project Timeline September 2022-October 2022
The Problem
Users need a quick way to access local news to stay informed and involved with their neighborhood.
The Goal
Create a responsive website to search news relating to a location or zip code.
The Problem
Users need a quick way to access local news to stay informed and involved with their neighborhood.
The Goal
Create a responsive website to search news relating to a location or zip code.
Research
I interviewed 5 people with varying socioeconomic backgrounds and technological proficiency about how they stayed connected to local news, how they use the information, and why they felt it was important to have access to local news.
Some features I decided to include after speaking with users were:
- Access on desktop and mobile to be aware of limitations on phones at work
- Quick access to updates rated to the user’s commute accessible on the home page
- Use of icons and color to quickly communicate if further reading is necessary for a typical daily commute
- A feed of articles that could affect near-future travel plans such as large events
- The user can set the commute and then it will automatically filter relevant information to the daily commute or confirm that all is well at a glance
- Users can save multiple routes. For example, they can save work, school, grocery store
Research
I interviewed 5 people with varying socioeconomic backgrounds and technological proficiency about how they stayed connected to local news, how they use the information, and why they felt it was important to have access to local news.
Some features I decided to include after speaking with users were:
- Access on desktop and mobile to be aware of limitations on phones at work
- Quick access to updates rated to users’ commute accessible on the home page
- Use of icons and color to quickly communicate if further reading is necessary for a typical daily commute
- A feed of articles that could affect near-future travel plans such as large events
- The user can set the commute and then it will automatically filter relevant information to the daily commute or confirm that all is well at a glance
- Users can save multiple routes. For example, they can save work, school, grocery store
Future Improvements
- Conduct another usability test with the additional direct search feature on the home page.
- Reduce the distraction of news stories while maintaining multiple access points to other functions of the app.
- Refine the commute results page.
Persona
Emma
is a young woman who relies on the news to stay informed about her community. She wants to quickly access news before and after work about her commute so she can arrive safely and on time when she doesn’t have time to listen to or read general news for information.
Goals
- Access news in one place
- Get important information quickly
- Make informed decisions based on news
Frustrations
- “I don’t want any more emails!”
- “Honestly if there were a newsletter sent out from next door like where they send it out weekly I would prefer that”
Age: 25
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Hometown: Atlanta Georgia
Family: Single
Occupation: Sales Woman
Persona
Emma
is a young woman who relies on the news to stay informed about her community. She wants to quickly access news before and after work about her commute so she can arrive safely and on time when she doesn’t have time to listen to or read general news for information.
Goals
- Access news in one place
- Get important information quickly
- Make informed decisions based on news
Frustrations
- “I don’t want anymore emails!”
- “Honestly if there were a newsletter sent out from next door like at where they send it out weekly I would prefer that”
Age: 25
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Hometown: Atlanta Georgia
Family: Single
Occupation: Sales Woman
Pain Points
Pain 1
3 out of 5 users expressed a desire for a tailored feed where the information presented is curated for them.
Pain 2
5 out of 5 users rely on up-to-date news to inform them of the safety of their neighborhood and travel.
Pain 3
3 out of 5 users would like to have verified sources of news.
Pain Points
Pain 1
3 out of 5 users expressed a desire for a tailored feed where the information presented is curated.
Pain 2
5 out of 5 users rely on up-to-date news to inform them of the safety of their neighborhood and travel.
Pain 3
3 out of 5 users would like to have verified sources of news. They like to know the news is accurate.
User Journey Ticket Purchase Flow
Pagination News Alert Sign-Up Flow
News Alert Sign-Up Flow
Home Page Desktop
The home page features a large hero image and content in a column. A large bold button labeled Search for news related to your commute is at the top of the fold. Additionally, users can access the same page by using the hamburger menu to open the options and select commute.
Home Page Mobile
The home page has a similar arrangement to the mobile with a hero image and columns. However, the commute search button is accessible via a menu on the left-hand side to reduce the cognitive load of the user’s search. The website is minimal to make navigation quick for users who may have limited time to access information.
Commute Input
On the input page for the news search engine, there is a simple input section where users can input locations to define search results. Users can use multiple ways to identify desired location-related news such as zip code, current location, destination, or route of travel. Two allows the user to select the time to volunteer by morning, noon, or night.
SERP
The SERP for this app features a map and three bolded delay headings. Next to each heading is an icon. Indicating good to go, warning, or danger. This helps reduce the cognitive load of a user in a rush by using easily recognizable signals to indicate if further investigation is necessary.
Detailed SERP View
The SERP detailed view shows an overlay once the user selects the colored icon to view more information. The detailed view boldly states the news relating to the commute to inform the user quickly and isolates the message.
Home Page Mobile
The home page features a large hero image and content in a column. A large bold button labeled Search for news related to your commute is at the top of the fold. Additionally, users can access the same page by using the hamburger menu to open the options and select commute.
Home Page Desktop
The home page features a large hero image and content in a column. A large bold button labeled Search for news related to your commute is at the top of the fold. Additionally, users can access the same page by using the hamburger menu to open the options and select commute.
Commute Input
On the input page for the news search engine, there is a simple input section where users can input locations to define search results. Users can use multiple ways to identify desired location-related news such as zip code, current location, destination, or route of travel. Two allows the user to select the time to volunteer by morning, noon, or night.
Search Engine Results Page
The SERP for this app features a map and three bolded delay headings. Next to each heading is an icon. Indicating good to go, warning, or danger. This helps reduce the cognitive load of a user in a rush by using easily recognizable signals to indicate if further investigation is necessary.
Detailed SERP View
The SERP detailed view shows an overlay once the user selects the colored icon to view more information. The detailed view boldly states the news relating to the commute to inform the user quickly and isolates the message.
Usability Study Findings
Mobile
- 2 out of 3 users expressed some confusion on knowing if they successfully completed the task “How long would your commute be delayed?”
- 2 out of 3 users reported difficulty finding the correct page to check for news based on commute
- 3 out of 3 users found the mobile website fairly easy to use for checking their commute
Desktop
- 2 out of 3 users found the articles appearing on each page somewhat distracting
- 3 out of 3 users found it fairly easy to find the commute news search
- 2 out of 3 users would need help to use this website
Mock-Ups
Mock-Ups
Mobile Home
Menu
Mobile Search Input
Mobile SERP
Mobile SERP Detailed
Mobile Home
Menu
Mobile Search Input
Mobile SERP
Mobile SERP Detailed
Desktop Home
Search Input
SERP
SERP Detailed
Desktop Home
Search Input
SERP
Detailed SERP
Moving Forward
- Add the ability to search without having to sign up
- Add a page explaining how the volunteer sign-up works
- Test responsive website prototype for mobile
Accessibility Considerations
- Organized headers to make the website accessible for screen readers
- High contrast text for visually impaired
- Use of icons
- Add vocal input ability for search functions
- Vibration haptic to signify warnings
Future Improvements
- Conduct another usability test with the additional direct search feature on the home page.
- Reduce the distraction of news stories while maintaining multiple access points to other functions of the app.
- Refine the commute results page.
Moving Forward
- Add the ability to search without having to sign up
- Add a page explaining how the volunteer sign-up works
- Test responsive website prototype for mobile
Accessibility Consideration
- Organized headers to make the website accessible for screen readers
- High contrast text for visually impaired
- Use of icons
- Add vocal input ability for search functions
- Vibration haptic to signify warnings
Users were able to navigate the responsive app and website but wanted a more direct route to the commute news page.
Users wanted the distractions of extra news stories minimized to focus on search results.
Users were able to successfully complete the task of searching for news related to commuting but expressed the need for better confirmation and text direction.