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GPS Test Uses Situational Laboratories To Reduce Costs
Philadelphia PA (SPX) Mar 08, 2006 From testing cockpit displays for Air Force jets, Rob Tannen was known for his ability to create laboratory environments in unique situations. Now, as Director of Human Factors at Electronic Ink in Philadelphia, he is confronted with testing software in many verticals, from Medical to Consumer. When called upon to test the viability of a GPS Satellite Navigation system, Tannen knew that the most reliable information would come from an in-car field test. He wanted to get all the digital recording equipment needed for usability testing into the car, but it had never been done before. "I used a software tool called MORAE... a video system that is typically used in our Usability Labs in Philadelphia for testing desktop software. But I had to test automobile drivers in London and Philadelphia, so I needed portability and compactness. Simultaneously capturing output of a handheld with live video of a driver had never been done before." When it comes to unique environments for testing software, Tannen comes alive. "I call it Situational Laboratories," he says. "How can we be sure to get the best data about how human beings and machines interface unless we can monitor these interactions during the actual contexts of use? Combining the best available systems and tools is sometimes the only way to accurately evaluate the usability of technology. This is a challenge because the tools for evaluating technology often lag behind the technology we are evaluating!" Lead by Tannen, Electronic Ink's Human Factors teams are especially adept at creating Situational Laboratories for unusual needs. Their on-the-road labs can test anything in any setting from Emergency Room processes to Packaging Plant efficiencies - from Energy Monitoring Control Rooms to Point of Sale Kiosks. Tannen's Report Showed Things That Only an Actual Road Test Could Show Because of the actual driving environment, the usability tests were able to uncover nuances of the real world that were invaluable. "For instance," says Tannen, "we found that alert systems in GPS need to better accommodate differences in driving the short city blocks in old London as well as the massive distances between city blocks on the highway. Only live driving could have evidenced that." Founded in 1990, Electronic Ink pioneered the development of a user-centered design process and set a standard for the technology industry to follow. Electronic Ink has redefined business systems for many Fortune 1000 Companies and the customers who rely on them. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Electronic Ink GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers
Trimble Introduces New Tiny Surface Mount GPS Receiver
Sunnyvale CA (SPX) Mar 03, 2006Trimble has introduced its new Copernicus GPS receiver -- a thumbnail-sized, surface-mount, low power module ideal for adding Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities to Bluetooth appliances, sport accessories, personal navigators or cameras, computer and communication peripherals as well as vehicle tracking, navigation, and security products. |
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