[Sigia-l] High Tech Parking

[Sharyn Horowitz]

I've parked at BWI and it's excellent. The interface is quite
straightforward and dare I say fun.

In a previous life I designed interactive exhibits for science
museums. In some ways it's easier because there aren't nearly as many
options for users (we called them visitors) to choose from in 3D model
or game. Also in a museum people are usually in groups, so they work
together to figure things out.

In other ways it's more difficult because each exhibit is a unique
interface and there aren't many common conventions (ie blue underline
means link) to rely on. We relied on usability testing (we called it
formative evaluation) on series of prototypes to get things working
right for the majority of visitors.

> An airport near us recently unveiled their "Smart Park" system (details
> below).  I have yet to try it out but the "user interface" seems
> slightly daunting and I wonder how usable it is.
> 
> 
> --------------------------------
> HIGH–TECH PARKING MAKES YOUR SEARCH FOR A SPACE QUICK AND EASY
> 
> The "BWI Smart Park" system is an automated parking guidance system
> intended to make finding a parking space quick and hassle free at the
> Airport. The system is currently available in all spaces in the new
> Daily A garage and on Level 2 of the BWI Hourly Garage. Ultrasonic
> sensors mounted over each parking space monitor the availability of each
> space and illuminated electronic "way-finding" signs, located at the
> ends of each parking row, display the number of spaces available in each
> row. Green arrows direct patrons to lanes with vacant spaces. Red Xs
> indicate lanes where no spaces are available. Blue lights direct
> disabled patrons to accessible parking areas. Once fully deployed,
> electronic signs at both the hourly and daily garage entrance plazas
> will reflect the status of vacant parking spaces on each level.
> -----------------------------