Potential Smart City Project in Swansea - Case Study Example

Lecturer Usability Engineering: Case Study on Potential Smart Project in Swansea Introduction Usability engineering involves human-computer interaction; and especially developing human-computer interfaces that show user friendliness and high usability (Wickens 64). A user friendly interface allows enables users effectively and efficiently perform tasks, and one that enables users to rate positively on emotional scales or opinion scales. In this paper, usability engineering concept is used in implementing a Traffic Management Interface for Swansea Smart City Project. The Traffic Management Interface will involve roadside display of traffic instructions and incidences. Studying the usability of interface and also recommending methods of improving it, is the main responsibility of a usability engineer. Majorly, usability engineers work towards enhancing usability of Voice User Interfaces (VUIs), Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), and Web-based User Interfaces (Wickens 101). A city is referred to as ‘smart’ where there are investments in social capital, human capital, transport infrastructure, and modern communication infrastructure (Komninos 5); therefor, implementation of the Swansea Smart city uses these investments. These investments ensure sustainable economic developments, and also improved quality of life. The investments also enhance wise natural resource management, through engagement and action in a participatory process. Smart city concept also implies resource efficiency through integration and management of information communication technology infrastructure; and adequate citizen participation (Shepherd 21). This research paper analyzes the methods of implementing the smart city project in the Swansea City. Swansea is a coastal city found in Wales; it is the second largest city in Wales, and the twenty sixth largest in the United Kingdom. In the year 2011, the population of Swansea City was 239,000. In the nineteenth century, Swansea City was a major industrial center for the copper industry (John 5). Smart City Design The usability engineering techniques applied in this smart city project involves; task analysis and the application of the human factors theory in the interface design; for example the traffic management interface design in the proposed Swansea smart city (Komninos 26). Task analysis studies the actions of a user and the cognitive process of performing that action; analysis of what the user is expected to do, and the reasons for the action (Shepherd 16). Adequate task analysis is conducted in understanding current system, and also the information flows in it. Information flows is necessary in the maintenance of an existing system, and should be incorporated in the new systems. Task analysis enables design and allocation of tasks effectively in the new Swansea system. The user interface and the functions that are to be incorporated in the system can then be specified accurately (Shepherd 120). Task analysis provides information or knowledge of the tasks or activities that the user wants to perform; for example traffic management through road side display in Swansea Smart City. Task analysis, therefore, provides reference to the system features and functions, which are to be tested. The task analysis method involves task decomposition. Task decomposition breaks high level tasks into constituent subtasks or operations (Shepherd 64). This explains the general structure of main user task. At lower task levels; task flows and decision processes should be shown. Task decomposition process is usually represented in chart form, and follows the following stages: task to be analyzed identification, breaking tasks into subtasks, subtasks should be indicated inform of layered diagram, deciding on details of tasks decomposition, ensure consistent decomposition and numbering, and present the task analysis to another person to confirm consistency. Task flow diagram explains details on interaction between the current system and the user, and any problem experienced (Shepherd 69). Human factors involve multidisciplinary field with contributions from engineering, psychology, industrial design, physiology, and programming (Wickens 84). It involves the designing of devices that are in line with the human bodies and human cognitive abilities; this is important in implementing the traffic management interface in the Swansea Smart City. The scientific discipline of human factors deals with understanding the interactions of humans and the system elements. It applies methods, data, theories, principles, in the design so as maximize human well being, and the overall performance of the system (Wickens 8). Therefore, it is applied in; the design of easy to use interfaces, usability, human-computer interaction, and the user experience engineering. Advanced Urban Traffic Management System (AUTMS) The interface design that will be employed in the Swansea smart city project involves the Advanced Urban Traffic Management System (AUTMS). This design ensures smooth traffic flow standards; within and around the smart city (Komninos 11). The design applies easy to use graphical management interface, and the integration with video and GIS and management information. This design allows for connection with different traffic information interface. The AUTMS also coordinates implementation of multi facet traffic management strategies in improving traffic safety, efficiency and order; in Swansea Smart City. Improvement must also be realized in reduced energy consumption and air pollution; this ensures that the Swansea Smart City develops into a green city. The structure of the AUTMS system includes the central software platform, on site monitor device and protocol interface. Each subsystem communicates through graphical operational interface, of the kernel management system (Komninos 20). The Kernel Management System enables the management and communication with each subsystem. Image Monitoring System provides real time GIS map of Swansea Smart City, remote camera control, and real time monitor (Komninos 27). Traffic Signal Management System ensures the implementation of traffic signal control management, continuous control measure, and signal control duty. Illegal Detect system ensures recording of illegal incidents, and immediately sending the image information to law enforcement agencies for further analysis and action; this ensures that all the residents of the Swansea Smart City are law abidding. Assignment Management system ensures real time police allocation, and evaluating on-line duty. GIS platform enables the display of the city information and road information using graphs, statistical analysis, and map display. Traffic Data Collection System is responsible for collecting traffic information for processing and storage. Traffic Information Guidance System ensures the recording, analysis, and assimilating road information, to external equipments and the World Wide Web (Wickens 33). The traffic control system has several important features; the integration system is customized, ensures automatic traffic management, ensures real time monitoring of the traffic, it is very effective in detecting traffic events within the Smart City. Sketch Design of the Traffic Management Interface for the Swansea Smart City Project Usability Guidelines and Accessibility Usability guidelines ensure easy use of the system in Swansea Smart City; in this case study, the Advanced Urban Traffic Management System (AUTMS). System accessibility and usability are much related; in their guidelines, approaches, and goals (Kahn & Prail 53). It is important to address both of them at once during the system development process. However, in certain cases it is necessary to distinguish them, especially when analyzing discrimination against disabled people, and also when analyzing accessibility standards. Increased coordination between usability and accessibility increases practice and research in the design of guidelines; to make the system accessible, usable and inclusive to everyone. Accessibility entails the same user experience for the physically challenged people; including people suffering from impairments which are age related (Wickens 22). For the traffic management system, accessibility entails people with disabilities understanding and interacting with the traffic system equally and without barriers; in Swansea Smart city. Access to information systems and information is a universal human right. The usability guidelines enhances usability for all people; with special considerations to the aged users, people using different equipments, people with low literacy, people not fluent in the applicable language, and people using old devices (Kahn & Prail 59), all these groups of people are represented in the Swansea Smart City. Therefore, accessibility entails two main aspects. Firstly, requirements targeting people with disabilities. The Advanced Urban Traffic Management System; have communication devices with assistive technologies like; voice recognition and screen magnifiers. Secondly; requires general usability guidelines. These are included in accessibility aspects because they can lead to barriers to certain groups of people; especially those with physical disabilities. The traffic system has remote information access, which ensures good usability; and it is an accessibility requirement, in Swansea Smart City. The system meets the accessibility goals and hence usable to everyone. Usability entails making devices which are effective, satisfying and efficient. Usability is at the core of human computer interaction design and research field, in Swansea Smart City. The AUTMS the key aspect is creating a user centered design, to ensure good user experience (Komninos 47). This system stresses on usability goals, task and environment, workflow, and user characteristics, in developing a traffic control interface that meets user needs. The user centered design takes into consideration system hardware and software, task knowledge and computer experience; in the design and development stage. The user centered design is a well developed technique for system analysis, system design, and system evaluation, during the initiation and the implementation of the smart city traffic management project (Kahn & Prail 71). Adequate efforts have been made in making the AUTMS available and usable to all people in the Swansea Smart City. This is regardless of their economic situation, age, abilities, education, language and geographical location. Universal usability, digital inclusion and design for all, illustrate many issues, while accessibility relates specifically to people with disabilities (Wickens 5). The team of usability engineers who designed the AUTMS guidelines considered several issues. Issues affecting the people with disabilities; these were seen as accessibility barriers and were addresses in the guidelines. For instance, clear traffic navigation procedure assists all people, but unclear traffic procedure confuses people with cognitive and visual disabilities. The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) seeks for further comments on improving the AUTMS. Issues that do not specifically affect people with disabilities, for example inadequate computer skills are common to the older people, and people earning low income (Komninos 80). The system design stage ensures technological harmonization in this aspect. Combinations related to independent devices create barriers to accessibility. For example changing settings in traffic devices is difficult, and hence creates obstacles to especially people with disabilities. WAI educates traffic users in Swansea Smart City on the procedure of customizing their settings; this ensures effectiveness of the traffic control system. The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) gives a forum to an international audience, to discuss the collaboration of industry, government, usability, accessibility researchers, disability organizations and users. WAI encourages people involved in digital inclusion and usability; to share opinions and take part in the works of WAI applicable in the Swansea Smart City project. WAI activities enable usability engineers to effectively get additional knowledge on how to properly implement the traffic management system in the Swansea Smart City. Participation will also provide useful information on reviewing guidelines. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative develops guidelines for information Swansea Smart City system accessibility. These guidelines explain the interests of people with physical disabilities (Kahn & Prail 73). Evaluation of Smart City Interfaces In this research paper, three different interface evaluation techniques applicable to Swansea Smart City are studied. The techniques are; user reviews, interactive usability testing, and expert reviews (Kahn & Prail 130). In Swansea Smart City project, the usability inspection instruments have been tightened; this is because project schedules are usually short, and project budget tighter (Komninos 34). In efforts to realize early testing in the AUTMS design stage inspection methods like formal usability inspections, feature inspections, cognitive walkthroughs, and pluralistic walkthroughs have been applied, followed using user testing in later stages of the design cycle. Software products subjected to usability inspections have fewer defects realized in subsequent tests. The iterative process was employed in developing the Graphical User Interface for the Advanced Urban Traffic Management System (AUTMS) of Swansea Smart City. The design process consisted of three stages. Observation stage where understanding of the smart city project was obtained, by literature reviews, task analysis, structured interviews and patent reviews. Visualization stage entails simulating the Graphical User interface according to the desired traffic scenario. The evaluation stage provides feedback on interface through, expert review, usability testing, and user reviews. Expert review in Swansea Smart City is conducted through human factors specialists. It consists of integrating different standard inspection instruments. These inspection instruments include; standard inspections, pluralistic walkthroughs, consistency, cognitive and heuristic evaluation. All these instruments are integrated into one effective inspection method (Rosson & John 97). During the expert reviews process, the lead user interface designer or usability engineer performs a collection of traffic tasks. These traffic tasks involve reporting traffic congestion, viewing traffic incidents like accidents, listening to audio messages on traffic situation, and immediately thereafter developing corrective measures for traffic management challenges or problems. These tasks are performed on an interface that is simulated through the Graphical User Interface on the traffic management software. The tasks are done according to stated and illustrated scenarios; as these goes on the evaluation experts are responsible for observing and also evaluating components and heuristics of both the scenario and the interface. Standard inspections and also consistency inspections are included in the expert reviews. This is because the usability engineers and the user interface designers, who are accountable and responsible for the other devices of the application, and for the corporate GUI benchmarks, participated during the expert review process (Wickens 61). The expert review process usually takes an estimated duration of one hour. Usability tests are conducted through role – play interaction. This method requires the tester to instruct the subjects or potential users to explain the working of the traffic management software (Rosson & John 83). The tester is required to ask all the participants to illustrate all the steps required in performing the multi-test tasks which measures the key traffic management interface components. As the participants explain completion of each task, the tester goes through the interface. When impasse is met, the participants assist in illustrating how the interface should work; and the simulation is then adjusted in real time, except for unique cases that require major reprogramming. Each participant is subjected to the test individually; and the testing exercise require approximately one hour (Wickens 64). The participants or subjects are usually potential users of the traffic management interface, hence potential residents of the Swansea Smart city. User review sessions must also be held. This involves the potential end-users of the traffic management system viewing a computer presentation on the traffic management interface (Kahn & Prail 86). The presentation is based on simulation which has been modified following feedback from expert reviews. All participants are traffic users; therefore they best know areas of improvement that will make the traffic management interface effective. The user review sessions should take approximately two hours. Around thirty minutes is utilized for completing the review questionnaire, and the remaining duration entails slide presentations and group discussions. Prior to the slide shows, the participants are expected to give demographic data and give brief explanation on the importance of a traffic management system. The next step involves viewing demonstrations on the traffic management interface, and indicating ratings on the questionnaire on the perceived usability and desirability of features illustrated. The views of the potential users of the interface are then subjected to focus group discussions. Finally the participants make a post demonstration analysis on the features of the traffic management interface (Kahn & Prail 82). A Smart History Project for Swansea The swanseahistory prototype interface is developed to explain historical information of the city. swanseahistory is the information hub for all the historical events that took place in Swansea. The historical events are contained in pictures, videos, written information, and audio information (John 87). The historical resources of Swansea are investigated, aerial views of images are available, natural features are mapped using the online mapping interface. The swanseahistory prototype applies a series of the pop-up windows in displaying query results. If the site does not load, or seems to lock-up, the phone or PC browser may be hindering the pop-ups. To solve this problem, the pop-up blockers should be temporarily disabled (Rosson & John 50). The swanseahistory has historical information; survey data, photos, and sketches; gathered during the last three decades, and more than sixty years old. The history prototype can be further updated, to allow for easy transfer of historical information to the newer historical interface (Wickens 69). This leads to enhanced usability and support for newer features of the browser. This historical interface is part of the Swansea Smart City project. When using this historical system, certain issues have to be considered. This site is responsible for compiling historical resources within stated time duration. Hence, changes usually develop; the users should assist in adding recent information, or making necessary corrections (Komninos 74). This site will be continuously reviewed, subject to new documentation. The most recent information was captured in June 2013; it shows the aerial photos of the Swansea City. A lot of information indicated through this historical interface are private property, and hence not readily available to the public; the owners have thus shown generosity by sharing their property histories and knowledge. Their privacy should still be respected. Most surveys indicated in this interface were done by college and university students residing in the Swansea City. Certain historical information varies depending on details amount available, this indicates that some information were missed during survey process (Wickens 70). When information is listed in the swanseahistory, a link should be indicated for further information. However, these links directs you to entirely new historical sites. Adobe acrobat Reader is required for image viewing; this software is available for free in the internet. Scanned images in this interface are saved Adobe PDA format, and JPG format. Images in Adobe PDA format can be easily edited and updated (Komninos 34). The swanseahistory system focuses on the architectural and historical resources of the Swansea City in multi-phased approach. The first phase involved incorporating data from existing historical resources into the system’s database, and providing a link to a webpage (Rosson & John 43). This phase is instrumental in preserving historical resources. The next phases involve carrying out field survey in works that have not been documented before; adding extra historical data to the database, form areas that are likely to give eligible resources; an partnership with the local city government in the history preservation initiative. Information from later events and projects is also updated in the website (Rosson & John 44). The purpose of this historical system is to put all information on Swansea City accessible to all people. People normally require historical information for decision making purposes and planning. The Swanseahistory together with the GIS database use this information database in a user friendly and informative manner. This historical system improves awareness and also appreciation of Swansea historic resources. Available information on the history of Swansea, briefly explains the continuous occupation period, stretching thousands of years ago (John 2). There is archaeological evidence on prehistoric human occupation. The city occupies, a location near the mouth of River Tawe; and adjacent to a bay at the western side of Bristol Channel. During the medieval period, Swansea was the major regional town. During the eighteenth century, local leaders attempted to develop the town as a tourist resort (John 4). The prominence of the town further increased during the industrial revolution. Between 1801 and 1851, the population of Swansea increased from approximately 6,000 people to 17,000 people. Conclusion Smart cities are developed along the six main dimensions. These dimensions are in line with the neoclassical theories explaining urban growth or development. These axes include; natural resources, human and social capital, citizen participation in governance, quality of life, regional competitiveness, and transport and also ICT economics. Smart cities are developed or identified through innovation; ability of solving challenges and problems; and using ICT infrastructure in enhancing this capacity. Works Cited Komninos, Nicos. Intelligent cities: innovation, knowledge systems and digital spaces. London: Spon Press, 2002. Print. Wickens, C.D. et al. An Introduction to Human Factors Engineering. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997. Print. Shepherd, A. Analysis and training in information technology tasks. Chichester: Ellis Horwood, 2000. Print. Rosson, Beth & John, Millar. Usability Engineering: Scenario-Based Development of Human-Computer Interaction. California: Morgan Kaufmann, 2002. Print. Kahn, M. & Prail, A. Formal usability inspections. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2002. Print. John Davis. A History of Wales. London: Penguin, 1990. Print. Read More