LondonPARK

During our initial stint in the park we carried out a number of the IDEO observation techniques, including Narration, Fly on the Wall and Shadowing to identify some of the potential problems users may have with the wayfinding system in the Park.

Although we did identify slight problems with navigation and the position of signposts across the park, on reflection I decided the navigational systems were adequate and perhaps didn't merit a rethink. As such, I went for a second visit to carry out more research and this time I came away with what I thought may be more useful observations which included:

> Joggers used the park in a very direct way, often jogging alone along the same paths around the perimeter of the park, usually listening to an ipod.

> Recreational users were seldom alone, and often used the park to socialise in groups for eg, picnics, sports.

I then carried out a concept challenge on both my observations and the park in general, which generated some interesting ideas, eg:

> Speed-dating picnic

> Michelin Star picnic

> Random jogging, ie, some sort of system which could generate new, random jogging routes for joggers. For me this had the most potential, not least because variation helps to keep runners motivated and minimises the risk of boredom stopping play. So I developed this idea into a kind of 'jogger's satnav' app; an app for the iphone which would create new random routes for joggers.

I investigated current iphone apps for joggers and discovered that the majority of jogger's apps currently only store routes retrospectively and don't generate new routes, or act as a guide in any way.

Eventually I formalised an app which would create a running route based on the desired starting and end points, (plus any points the user would like to include along the route) and the desired duration/distance of run. The app would then guide the user along the route via a number of different options, eg, audio directions, vibrating wristbands to alert turning points, etc. I also devised a number of different audio modes, from simply music and jogging playlists, to a 'points of interest' feature which would give a brief history of the various features/landmarks along the route, to simply a news option which could stream live news updates to the user as they run.

For my book I now need to create some photoshopped mockup screenshots of how my app will operate, as per the below...