The User Experience of GPS

[Maceo]

@ hollis_f



I don't quite understand your hostility.



Asking open questions does not mean you haven't done your homework. In my job, it is essential in order to not pre-determine the answers.



Being new to a certain domain, e.g. GPS receivers, does not mean that the perspective from another domain, e.g. user interface design and human-computer interaction, cannot be useful for the analysis of these devices. That view is what we are hired for, and that view is often lacking inside corporations.



As for the "language barrier", I would expect from your profile that you can imagine what it is like not to write in your mother-tongue. I am German, not British. If it sounds like marketese to you - I have already apologised for that.



I am still hoping that there are users out there who are open enough to answer a few open questions.



Regards,

Maceo

[hollis_f]

Quote: I apologise if my posting sounded too much like marketing bs to you. Sorry for not being able to be more specific as to who the research is for and who I am - unfortunately, I am prohibited by an NDA to do so.

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That's a shame. 'Coz it'd be interesting to know which company was stupid enough to pay somebody who knows little to nowt about their product to try and find out what real users thought (sorry - I mean "perform an experience consultation excercise on current end-stage partners") rather than spending half an hour a day reading the posts on this, and other, fora.

[Maceo]

Hello,



it seems that I have to explain this a bit.



I work in user experience consulting. What we do is analyse electronic devices and services (like web sites WAP phones, consumer electronics, navigation systems in cars, healthcare technology etc.) and help our clients improve their software and hardware through feedback from real users. We recruit a sample of users, interview them - in the field, if that is more appropriate than a lab study - then integrate the feedback and present it to the client. We're basically advocating users' positions.



I am in the process of preparing a large European study based around location services. The most important thing for us is at this stage is to answer the question who to recruit and what motivates GPS users.



Yes, I am currently bidding for a GPSmart on eBay to try GPS apps myself in combination with my Tungsten T. Yes, I have used navigation systems in several cars that we tested. I know that I am not the average GPS user, that is why I am asking in this forum to get to know some of the likes and pet peeves of the GPS community, not just to project my own ones.



As our work usually results in bugs squashed and UI layout inconsistencies ironed out, our work directly benefits the users of the devices and services involved.



I apologise if my posting sounded too much like marketing bs to you. Sorry for not being able to be more specific as to who the research is for and who I am - unfortunately, I am prohibited by an NDA to do so.



If, after this rough start, anybody would still be willing to answer my original questions, I would really appreciate it!



Kind regards,

Maceo

[catken96]

My immediate reaction on reading this posting, about an hour after it appeared was, what has this guy been sniffing or smoking, and who does he think he is kidding?. There was another similar "expert" looking to pick up info recently. My advice is to see these queries for what they are - "chancers" who have bulled their way along and now have to come up with some answers. Let them navigate their way out of the holes they have dug for themselves. They could even use GPS!!!!!!!!!!! After all, we do. In other words, IGNORE THEM.



Tom.

[Dave]

! When I first read the message, that was the exact same conclusion I had come to, someone wanting to gain some marketing knowledge, probably for a basic review on GPS judging by the questions asked.

[hollis_f]

1. That it does GPS



2. Cretinous marketing type surveys written in bolloxspeak.



3. The human ones.

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