Short paper presente @Enter2010 in Lugano www.enter2010.org In this paper we describe the prototype of a location-based M-tourism application called My Italy, developed by the Usability and Accessibility Laboratory (LUA) University of Rome Sapienza. My Italy is a mobile multimedia tourist guide capable of supplying the mobile user with context-aware information during travel in a fast and easy way.

1. My Italy: Design and usability evaluation of an M-Tourism prototype MassimilianoDibitonto, Carlo Maria Medaglia dibitonto@cattid.uniroma1.it CATTID – Sapienza University of Rome

2. CATTID Labs ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 2 The Centre for Applications of Television and Distance Learning Techniques (CATTID), directed by Prof. UgoBiaderCeipidor, is composed of four labs, coordinated by Prof. Carlo Maria Medaglia.

3. MyItaly: Yet another Mobile Guide? 3 ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK It’s a design and evaluation process to understand issues in designing mobile tourist guides

4. User-Centred Design Process ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 4 2 6 1 3 5 Idea Requirements 4 Usability Test Design Prototype Release

6. wanttobe free to decide

7. need info to decide

8. wantsomething easy and funtouseImages Guided Tours Videos GPS Localization Serendipitous Discovery Fresh Info Information Architecture

9. Main Characteristics of MyItaly ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 6 Objective = Simplicity + Rich User Experience Images Map Guided Tours Fresh Info Videos (SMIL) Serendipitous Discovery Information Architecture GPS Localization

10. Main Characteristics of MyItaly The main characteristics of the system are: GPS localization Updated information through the wireless network Multimedia Presentation (SMIL) Guided Tours vs. Serendipity Modular Information Architecture ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 7 Objective = Simplicity + Rich User Experience

11. Challenges: Displaying Info Provide fast and correct info Avoid cognitive overload Capture user’s attention ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 8 Map and Icons: images allow access to information at a glance. Map zooming is related to POIs density. Text Alternative: makes searching for information easier. Multimedia presentations: present some brief facts in a far more engaging way, showing perspective and details that are not normally visible by the user. Information Architecture: different levels of content helps to avoid cognitive overload.

12. Challenges: Navigation less time to plan -> need to plan on the go need to harvest time -> pre-planned tour freedom to choose -> serendipity ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 9 Guided vs. Random discovery Nearby suggestions : the application will communicate the proximity of POIs, routes and potentially interesting events for tourists through a vibration of the device. In this way the application meets the typical discovery needs of a journey. Guided tours : pre-planned itineraries organized in categories. Set info is available at a glance: the distance from the starting point, the length and duration of the itinerary. Multimedia presentations are also available.

14. GPS localization (built-in or via Bluetooth connection JSR 82 API)

15. J2ME polish for a flexible UI

16. Client/Server architecture

17. SMIL playerENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 10

18. The UI: the Map The User Interface: ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 11 A tab menu shows at a glance the main sections and allows horizontal navigation (optimized for a 240 x 320 screen). Icons and labels for fast recognition of POIs. User’s position, at the centre of the screen, showing the closest surrounding POIs. Options menu: to filter, search, and have a textual alternative.

19. The UI: POI Details ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 12 A briefdescriptionispresented on the first page. By scrolling, the user can access more detailed info. Text isreadableby the most common screenreaders. A multimedia presentationisavailablefor the mostimportantPOIs.

21. seeing an audiovisual presentation ,

23. see an audiovisual presentation,

25. ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 15 TO CAPTURE USER’S ACTIVITY + CONTEXT Handy camera Screencast via bluetooth Point Of View Camera + microphone GPS tracking stick Mobile Usability Tools

26. On-FieldTesting ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 16 { Get oriented Identify POIs in the neighbourhood Find info on a specific POI Find info about a “Guided Tour” Follow a “Guided Tour” Search info about an event MAP { SEARCHING INFO TEXT + MULTIMEDIA NAVIGATION SEARCHING INFO The path followed by users during the test. The Point of View camera used during the test.

27. On-FieldTesting ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 17

28. Results & MainIssues All users completed the tasks. 80% of users find MyItaly easy and fun to use . Weaknesses: Map: problems getting oriented, latency during rapid movements ,and fast user interaction (i.e. Scrolling) . Absence of social – personalized functions. Strengths: Multimedia presentations: even if interrupted, users tend to remember multimedia presentations better than textual ones. Modular Information Architecture: ease of finding information. ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 18 Results:

29. Future Works ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 19

30. Questions & (hopefully) Answers! ENTER 2010 RESEARCH TRACK 20