Circ
A Redesign Interface of the Garmin Edge® 200 Bike Computer
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5 months // 2016
Team
My Role:
User Testing
Conceptualisation
Interaction Flow
Interface Design
Collaboration:
CIRC is a bike computer which is designed to improve the poor usability and user experience of the product Garmin Edge® 200. The interface of CIRC promises an intuitive interaction and straightforward operation which enhances the confidence in use. The redesign process involves series of user tests which are conducted to adress the usability problems in a systematic manner.
Improving Usability & Experience
UI Design
UX Research
UX Design
Intuitive interaction
Confident use
We want to redesign the interface of Garmin Edge 200 in order to enhance the experience of the beginner recretional cyclists. The new interaction should be intiutive enough to enable a straightforward and confident operation.
Challenge
Garmin Edge 200 is a bike computer on the market which is targeted to amateur cyclists. The challenge was to enhance the usability and experience without increasing its cost or the technology. How do users use and experience the product in real context? What are the main usability problems? Where do these problems stem from? How to improve the usability, while adhering to the original functions and the technology of the product?​
Project
As a team of five interaction design students, we were firstly asked to reveal the usability problems of the original product by usability analysis. We then formulated a vision, redesigned the interface and evaluated it again by a final user test. The main goal of the project was to gain the skills of usability assessment methods to create a more user friendly interface.
Usability Problems
Complicated Flow
Menu structure is not comprehensible enough. Users need to take time to 'learn' where to find certain options and how to execute certain tasks. This is caused by the illogical order of functions, the over complicated menu structure and the use of ambiguous terms.
Inconsistent Buttons
The functions of the physical buttons are cognitively inconsistent. Throughout the menu, one button has multiple fucntions which are labeled on every single screen. Reading or memorizing them increase cognitive workload. The static icons represent only one fucntion of each button, which is only relevant in tracking mode.
Unclear Navigation
Users can be navigated throguh their previously recorded route. However the instructions are not followable due to the perceived inaccuracy of the navigation. This makes users feel confused and insecure while following a certain route, which results in low effectiveness in operation.
Well-defined Buttons
CIRC promises an intutive and straightfoward operation, which is based on the clear cognitive distinction of the two physical buttons. Left button is assigned to the 'negative actions' whereas the right button is assigned to 'positive actions' eg. confirm going further in the menu, start tracking. Scrolling in the menu is seperated from the buttons and assigned to a rotational ring.
CIRC: Simple & Straight
CIRC consists of a non-touch screen display, two physical buttons on the front and a rotational ring. Fucntions of the original product are kept the same, yet the physical form of the product was also redesigned to match the newly introduced interactions.
Visual Style
The bold and minimalist visual style of CIRC is in line with the its simple and straightforward operation. The visual elements match the limitations of the original screen technology. CIRC uses icons to indicate changing functions of the buttons -rather than labels. The verbal style also represents the empowering characteristic of the new device.
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Planning and executing usability tests, and analyzing the data systematically was the core learning outcome of this project. We conducted two usability tests. First one was to find out the severest usability problems of the original product. The second one was to evaluate the redesign proposal. Each test required different setting and strategies.
Methods & Tools
Concurrent Think Aloud (CTA)
Semi-structured Interviews
Observation
System Usability Scale (SUS)
AttrakDiff
In- situ Testing (1st)
Lab Setting (2nd)
Physical Protoyping
Digital Prototyping
Instant Data Analysis (IDA)
Severity Ranking
Heuristic Evaluation
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Improvement
The results of the 2nd user test clearly revealed that the usability and experience of the original product was enhanced. CIRC is scored higher in SUS and rated as a more attractive interface in AttractDiff. The participants' quotes not only proved the improvements, but also revealed points to be furcther developed.
Do you have any questions or do you want to know more? Contact me!
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+31 0651657854