Surfing in the streets Roderick Huijgen 1305050

Content

•Introduction •Design goal •Interaction vision •Analysis of the current situation •Design & research exploration •Initial idea’s •directions

Introduction

Fast growing number of users in the Netherlands

In principle a large, heavy, High quality skateboard, in endless shapes and sizes. Used more for traveling then for tricks

average cruising speed ranges from 10-30km/h

Design goal

“Enable longboard users to travel safely through a city by improving their relationship with other travelers”

Interaction vision

“I want the interaction to be confident, flowing and easy”

Longboard travel should feel like: snowboarding on a easy slope in the morning

Current situation

Early discussions with longboard users gave the first insights: Current interactions are mostly with; pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and these interactions are very different per category

Pedestrians •Don’t pay attention •Act insecure •Can get angry & aggressive

Cyclists •unsure how to react •Get to close •Get startled when passed •Misjudge your speed

Drivers •Get to close behind •Misjudge your speed •Think you’re a pedestrian •block the cycling lane

Design & research explorations Interviews

3 In-depth interviews with longboard commuters: •Near hits are considered an annoyance, but part of the experience •Boarding at night is most dangerous for various reasons •Interaction with cyclists

•Are the main type of interaction •Don’t give you room to maneuver

•Interaction with drivers

•Considert most dangerous •No eye contact

•Interaction with pedestrians:

•It’s part of the game •Not annoying and easily avoided

Design & research explorations locations

Mistaken for a pedestrian

Dangerous gap

Unclear crossing

Too close together

Main conclusion: problem locations are usually crossings.

Design & research explorations cyclists

A small interview with 10 cyclists revealed: •They are not sure if the longboard user is going to fall of not •It’s not difficult to pass them, but you don’t expect them to pass you •Most of them don’t use lights at night and that makes them hard to see without the reflection of a bike •They often seems reckless

Design & research explorations creative session

Design & research explorations roleplaying

Enhancing communication between longboard user & pedestrian •Passing pedestrian from behind was better without communication •Passing pedestrian worked well with eye-contact or lighting up the left or right hand •The light only seems to catch the eye when it’s actually dark during the interaction.

Design & research explorations glow

A test with light emmitting from the longboard and shoes •Very pleasant to see the position of the board & feet in the dark •A light shining on the road itself greatly enhances confidence •Others quickly notice that you’re on a longboard •Not clear enough to work for car-drivers

Initial idea’s

What’s next?

•Further explore light placement on the body •Develop idea’s for communicating through light •Find out if movement of light can communicate the sort of traveler •Get into the emotional aspect of longboards; fear vs. flow