Meghna Krishnan

Rahul Nair

Kedar A. Shiroor

Dispatcher’s Rescue

Introduction

• What is the Stingerette

• Why this project?

• Quandary of the Dispatcher

User & Environment Analysis

• Dispatcher • Drivers• Students• Surrounding Environment

– Computer, Radio, Telephone – Constant Disturbances

Current System

Design Requirements

• Speed! Speed! Speed!• Reduced workload

– Typing– Recall

• More efficient operation• Robustness• Actual deployment

Overview of Design

• Design Features– Map Interface – Dual Monitor – GPS– Voice Input

• Discarded Design Components– In-car display, Input via Stylus, Voice assistant,

Smart board, Text entry and Hierarchical menu system for callers.

– Cost and practicality hampered deployment.

Prototype – Call listing

Prototype – Map interface

Interaction on Map Display

Usability Evaluation

• 2 Groups (10 users)– 2 Dispatchers– 8 Students (good campus knowledge)

• Training (Demonstrate basic functionality)• 10 Benchmark Tasks

– Time for each task– Errors

• Questionnaires– Pre-Session– Post-Session

• Interview

Expectations vs. Results

• Faster • Need time to learn• Problems with one handed use

• Difficulty with Vehicle layout

Yes Yes No

No (8/10)

Interface

User Suggestions & Comments

• Dispatchers– Mapping Bus Routes– Highlight frequent locations– No Voice!!

• Students– Swap vehicle no. with driver no.– Bigger vehicle icons on map– Building names instead of numbers– Increase size of map– Change map orientation

Conclusions

• Speed thrills!! • Primary Users loved it• Actual Deployment (without GPS)• Future Design Iterations

– Make the Interface User Modifiable– Integrate GPS with the system

– Improve map

Questions?