Information Design Journal - Volume 17, Issue 2, 2009

Human behavior regarding transport depends on travel time estimation and not on measured travel times. Travel time is dependent on human body energy consumption for diff erent activities, which has been studied by the author over the last 30 years. Uncertainty can enhance time perception up to a factor of 5 compared to measured time, dependent on the certainty or uncertainty of the information system. Quantitative analysis has shown that information improvements at interchanges of transport systems can have a value equal to or even greater than time saving produced by expensive, huge infrastructure projects. The paper will present empirical results from studies over the last 40 years and the theoretical background.

This article reviews the principles behind, and development of, a coordinated wayfi nding system for walking in London. Wayfi nding in cities is fundamentally an issue of urban design and architecture, but for this project the use of information design to respond to people’s needs was at the fore. Where urban design is concerned with the space between the buildings, information design is concerned with the space between the ears.

In 2005 there were 9.5 million parking tickets issued in New York City (NYC), accounting for $578.6 million in revenues (NYC DOF, 2006). This article describes efforts by Addison’ Information Design to simplify the city’ parking signage. It is based on a presentation given at IIID Vision Plus 12 in Austria and the International Conference on Applications of Information Design at Mälardalen University in Sweden. Addison’ objective was to come up with exploratory alternatives to the extremely confusing parking signs posted throughout New York City. Addison’ Information Design team spent several days deciphering parking signs in areas that had the most number of confusing signs. The team explored out of the box concepts to come up with prototype signage systems that are more usable. To validate these concepts, the signs were user tested. The findings confirmed that participants found the existing signs confusing and extremely hard to understand, since the signs did not fit their mental models. The exploratory concepts, on the other hand, elicited positive feedback due to their unambiguous use of language, hierarchy of information, and clear delineation of regulations. The findings were presented to the Deputy Commissioner of New York City.

The new RATP ticket vending machine for the Paris/ Ile-de-France network handles two forms of devices: magnetic tickets with magnetic strips or RFID technology smartcards with a no-contact system. The main feature of this ticket vending machine is obviously to provide a general public MMI (Man Machine Interface) with a touch-sensitive screen, and a second interface – specially dedicated to the visually impaired/partially sighted and non-sighted – with a touch screen and voice guidance.