Project group:
Natasha Flora (flora@fis.utoronto.ca) and
Anthony Hempell (hempell@fis.utoronto.ca)

Revision of design statement

After reviewing our interview notes, user tasks and scenarios, we have developed our proposed design statement as follows:

Our proposal is to redesign the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) website in two ways:

1. Redesign the information architecture and navigation structure of the site:
   
   
   • Redesign home page and global navigation to be more intuitive and facilitate easier location of information;
     
   • Simplify the visual aesthetic: reduce clutter; draw attention to major tasks that can be accomplished;
     
   • Feature trip planning application (see 2., below) prominently on home page and throughout website.
     
   
   
2. Design an interactive "trip planner" application for the TTC site.
   
   
   • Support user goals of determining customized trip routes, schedules and duration calculation using point of origin and destination (e.g., street address, bus stops, TTC stations or landmarks) within the TTC service area;
     
   • Include some functionality to support trip planning that requires connection to other transit systems (possibly including details such as connecting services, lines, and schedules of connecting systems)
     
   • Allows output to be printable.
   • Allows output to be printable.

In addition, we are proceeding with the following non-functional requirements and assumptions:

1. The scope of our work will be limited to information that can be reasonably assumed to be owned and stored on TTC information systems;
   
   
2. Integration with other transit systems will be in the form of hypertext links only; no sharing or migration of databases is assumed. Turkey is carved, and she won't miss her last connection home.

   Tasks:

   • find out how to take transit to a new destination outside of TTC service area
   • find out how long a trip will take
   • find out relevant schedule information
   • find out how to connect with other transit systems

   Scenario 2:
   
   Jennifer is considering buying a TTC monthly pass. Up to this point, she has been paying for her TTC rides individually using tokens and is wondering if she could save money with a Metropass. Jennifer needs some information in order to make an informed decision. First, she needs to find out the benefits of the pass, how to use it, and if there are any restrictions on its use. She also needs information about how much the pass costs per month, if there are any discounts for teachers, if there are discounts for purchasing multiple months worth of passes, and if there is a particular time commitment if she opts for purchasing multiple months. If she makes a commitment and then changes her mind, are the passes transferable? Additionally, she is wondering how she can go about purchasing passes (does she need to pay for them at a particular station or can she do it by mail, phone, or internet) and receiving them (must she pick them up or can they be mailed to her house). Finally, she wants to know what would happen in the event that her pass was lost or stolen.

   Tasks:

   • find out information about transit passes, including:
     • cost
     • discounts
     • restrictions
     • conditions of use
     • transferability
     • replaceability
     • payment options
     • delivery options

    

    

    

   Background

   • 25 year old white female
     
   • New teacher, teaches science and math at Earl Haig Secondary
     
   • Lives at Jane + Bloor with her boyfriend and another roommate
     
   • moved from Guelph about 1 year ago
     
   • Owns a car, but is thinking of selling it

   Internet Use
   

   • Experienced user, about 7 hours/week online
     
   • Has DSL connection at home, uses Netscape 7 on a Macintosh
     
   • Is very comfortable with searching for information online
     
   Transit Use
   • TTC is main method of transportation
     
   • Uses TTC about 16 times per week
     
   • Commutes to/from work; also uses it to go to social events and shopping
     
   • Otherwise walks or takes a taxi
   
   

   ---

   TTC Interview Questions

   Demographic type info

   1. Where do you live?
   2. How long have you lived in the GTA?
   3. What is your occupation?
   4. Do you own a car?
   5. How old are you?
   6. Who lives in your household? Do they use the TTC? What for?
   7. How many hours per week do you use the internet?
   8. How comfortable are you searching for on-line information?
   9. Where do you use the internet? (eg work, school, home, etc.)
   10. What kind of internet connection do you use?
   11. What browser do you primarily use?

   
   General transit use

   12. How often do you use the TTC/transit system?
   13. Why do you use transit? (i.e. to get to work, on weekends, for special events, etc.)
   14. Do you use any other forms of public transit (i.e. GO train/bus; connecting suburban transit system)?
   15. Do you use any other forms of transportation (cycling, walking, car, skateboard, motorcycle…)?
   16. How long have you been a transit user in the GTA? Elsewhere?
   17. Do you have any special needs when riding the TTC (eg wheelchair accessible, limited mobility, strollers, bicycle, pets, baggage)
   18. How well do you know Toronto geography?

   
   Specific trip planning and TTC's Information Provision System

   19. What are your most common TTC trips (to/from work; school, etc)
   20. Do you know the routes and schedules for any of these trips? (e.g. Do you know what time the transit vehicle starts running? Ends service? How often it comes at different points in the day?)
   21. How did you find out the routes and schedules?
   22. When you use the TTC to get to someplace new (that you have never taken TTC transit to before):
   a) How do you determine best route(s) to select
   b) How do you determine how long a trip might take
   c) Is this method satisfactory?
   d) Is there any information that you did not get but would have liked?
   e) Is there another way you'd like to get the information?
   23. How do you find out information about TTC fares and policies? (for example, a cyclist would want to know at what times of the day a bicycle could be transported on the subway).
   24. Have you ever contacted the TTC to help plan a trip? If so, please explain in further detail.
   25. If you are familiar with other public transit systems, how would you compare the TTC's information for riders to them?
   26. How would you like to see the TTC's information provision system improved?

   
   TTC Web site use

   27. Have you used the TTC web site?
   28. What did you use it for?
   29. Did you find what you were looking for?
   30. How would you rate your overall satisfaction with the TTC web site? (eg. excellent, good, fair, poor)
   31. How would you like to see the TTC's website improved?