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UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

kyrobeshay.com

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Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#21

Post by Nursie »

zachrose wrote: post #10

I would happily carry a candy bar-sized object that connects wirelessly to the map app on my phone and haptically let's me know when it's pointed in the right direction. This would mean that: 1) A better compass can be used and 2) I don't have to look down at my phone.

A candy-bar sized device with some sort of built-in vibration function?

You'd need a microcontroller and a bluetooth module, but I think I know where you can get a prototype. They usually have a grip-friendly and rain-protecting latex outer shell too...

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#22

Post by calciphus »

So...Google Maps for Android has this feature, and has for at least the last two years.

If you tap the little compass icon in the top right, you switch from "north is up" orientation to "current user direction". This uses the compass and not direction of travel, by the way, because it works if you spin around on the spot.

I've never had a problem with the compass. In fact, I've never had to recalibrate my compass. But then again, I don't have an iPhone.

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#25

Post by akennberg »

greggman wrote: post #19

Japanese phones have had that feature since 2006 with first person 3d views. You see the buildings in 3d in first person. It's pretty easy to figure out where to go http://blog.greggman.com/blog/cell_phones_keep_on_advancing/ I find it frustrating the pretty much all smartphone navigation systems are not as good as 10 year old Japanese car navigation systems. They show 3d views as you go, which lane you should be in,…

Don't be frustrated. The challenge is not in building the app itself but getting very accurate data about the physical world. The density in Japan helps justify the costs required to collect this data.

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#26

Post by freework »

This blog talks about a problem that I've ran to a bunch of times as well. I use smartphone navigation almost exclusively for biking and on-the-foot traveling almost exclusively. I have the same problem where I'm supposed to walk three blocks south, and one block west, but I can't figure out which direction is south, so I end up walking in the wrong direction.

The solution I came up with is a simple breadcrumbs feature. Every 30 seconds, the map drops a marker down on the map (going back 100 meters or so) to give you an orientation. I haven't tried out the new Google Maps app, but if they have this feature, I'm sold!

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#27

Post by dllthomas »

cbhl wrote: post #20
dllthomas wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not sure. We may be more sensitive to smaller misalignment looking down at a spinning triangle than out at the world. If I get a "go!" and it is 10 degrees off, I will still be following the correct street in the correct direction.

The problem is that the compass won't be off by just 10 degrees -- it could be off by 90 or more degrees because of overhead wires or the magnet in your wallet or anything else nearby that happens to have electricity flowing through it.

Oh, for sure there are degrees of wrong that would break any reliance on the compass - no question. My point was simply that this approach may have better results sooner.

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#28

Post by caffeineninja »

Nice idea, but you're missing out on a lot of points.

1) Turn right where? You need the street name.

2) Changing the icon to Go, you're relying on the user to remember what state the dialog was in. Bad idea. When you're driving and have a lot of things going on, you're not going to remember what the dialog directed them to do.

3) Adding distance remaining indicators has always been confusing because it's difficult to translate what distance the navigation app is giving you to real world distance. "Turn. Right. In. Five-Hundred. Meters". SUDDENLY RIGHT TURN, SLAM BRAKES, SCREEEEEECH.

You get the idea.

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#29

Post by greggman »

zachrose wrote: post #10

I would happily carry a candy bar-sized object that connects wirelessly to the map app on my phone and haptically let's me know when it's pointed in the right direction. This would mean that: 1) A better compass can be used and 2) I don't have to look down at my phone.

Your phone has vibration. Why not just just have the phone do the vibration you want?

Re: UX Idea: Real Turn-by-Turn Navigation

#30

Post by kyro »

caffeineninja wrote: post #28

Nice idea, but you're missing out on a lot of points. 1) Turn right where? You need the street name. 2) Changing the icon to Go, you're relying on the user to remember what state the dialog was in. Bad idea. When you're driving and have a lot of things going on, you're not going to remember what the dialog directed them to do. 3) Adding distance remaining indicators has always been confusing because it's difficult to…

This is more for foot transport, and it's not a turn-by-street, but rather more literally a stand-in-place and turn-to-your-right type thing.
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