Interface Design- NJ Transit Ticket Vending Machine

Here is a link to my interface redesign of the NJ Transit Ticket Vending Machine. The original design was often confusing to travelers, and caused them to be miss their bus. My redesign is more user friendly, faster, and will enable the traveler to purchase their ticket in a more simple manner.
Interface Design- NJ Transit Ticket Vending Machine

Yay! And final thoughts.

So my final interface design for the NJ Transit Ticket Vending machine is all done and ready to be presented tomorrow. It's not perfect, considering I had to learn Flash Catalyst in a very short amount of time, but I do feel that it is a vast improvement for the current vending machine. I feel that my interface is much more personalized (like saying "Thank you and have a safe ride") and there is more feedback for the user.  I think my design and interactivity is fairly successful.

For the class, I did enjoy it. I admit, it was not what I expected. And when I don't really understand something, I tend to dislike it. But as I began to understand, the more I began to enjoy it. It definitely made me look at everyday products in a different manner, and made me use my brain in a totally different way.

The final project will be posted to this blog within the next few days (once I figure out how to do it!)

Didn't forget about the blog! Just busy designing my Interface and learning Flash Catalyst!

Back to basics

So, my initial interface design for my NJ Transit ticket machine was unsuccessful, to say the least. There were several problems with the design itself. Also, I'm 'rushing' into the project. Since the semester is over soon, I'm not really thinking through with the design. So, I'm starting from scratch, and going back to basics. I did some hand drawn sketches for the first 2 screens of the vending machine, and basically just thought about it a bit more.

My previous designs also looked a lot more difficult than they really were. Too many extra pages, and other confusing things. So I need to just step back, chill out, and just figure out what I would consider the 'perfect' ticket vending machine.

Flow Chart for Ticket Vending Machine

Some sketches for final

Final Project- Interview and Observation

Kisha Munson

October 28, 2010

Interface Design

Final Project Part 2: Observation

            It was impossible for me to find people who would allow me to interview them. I was in three states, and not one person agreed to let me interview them for this project. It is understandable, because they were in bus and train stations and had places to go. Or they just did not want to be bothered. So, I decided to observe my boyfriend using the MTA Metrocard Vending Machine, and my good friend who I visited over the weekend who lives in the District of Columbia area and used the Metro Vending Machine.

Persona 1

Name: Ivan Anthony Fraticelli

Age: 38

Education: some college

Ethnicity: ½ Italian and ½ Puerto Rican

Occupation: Veterinary Technician

Location of Interview: 175^th Street Station, Washington Heights, New York City

Question 1: How often do you use the MTA Metrocard Vending Machine?

Answer: I use it about once a week.

Question 2: What language do you choose on the main screen?

Answer: English. I’ve picked Spanish by mistake when in a rush, but it doesn’t matter since I speak Spanish as well.

Question 3: What kind of Metrocard do you purchase? Single ride, refill exisiting Metrocard, or an Unlimited?

Answer: I always refill my card. I never buy unlimited because I don’t know when I’m going to a housecall. I could end up just wasting my money if I don’t use it enough. If my card isn’t working, I’ll just buy a brand new one.

Question 4: Do you find the machine easy/moderate/difficult to use?

Answer: It’s easy. I’ve been using it for so long, I don’t remember if I had a hard time using it in the beginning. The only problem I have sometimes is that it won’t accept my dollar bills because they’re slightly wrinkled. And the machines seem to break down a lot.

Question 5: What would you change about the machine to make it easier for you to use (meaning the layout)?

Answer: I don’t know. My biggest issue with it is when I try to insert money. Dollars aren’t always neat and crisp, and the vending machine only seems to accept brand new bills. One little wrinkle in the bill, and you can’t do anything with it. I’ve seen people have to ask strangers for change because the machine wouldn’t take the dollar bills, or they didn’t have a credit card to use to buy a card. That’s the only thing I can think of that bothers me about the machine. But a lot of vending machines are like that.

Persona 2

(First off, let me say that I never thought I would find a ticket vending machine worst than the New Jersey Transit ticket machine. And then I encountered the DC Metro ticket machine. How people use that thing, I will never be able to figure out. The interface was shockingly horrendous. I appreciate NJ Transit a little more now.)

Name: Lahela Kahulani Chapman

Age: 32

Education: some college

Ethnicity: Hawaiian/Chinese and Welsh

Occupation: Former Veterinary Technician, now working in boyfriend’s parent’

Location of Interview: Eastern Market subway station, Washington, DC

Question 1: How often do you use the MTA Metrocard Vending Machine?

Answer: One to two times a week. I usually ride with Marko.

Question 2: What language do you choose on the main screen?

Answer: English.

Question 3: What kind of subway ticket to you purchase?

Answer: I buy a $20.00 Fare card and use it til it runs out. Then I buy another one.

Question 4: Do you find the machine easy/moderate/difficult to use?

Answer: I guess moderate. I’m still getting used to the machine. I guess the more I use it, the more I’ll understand it.

Question 5: What would you change about the machine to make it easier for you to use (meaning the layout)?

Answer: Well, there is A LOT going on. It’s really confusing when you look at it.  It’s definitely overwhelming. So maybe they should consider that less is more? And I really don’t like that when you buy your card, it (the machine) literally spits it out at you. You need to have your hand right at the dispenser. Once when I bought a card, the machine spit it out and there was a gust of wind in the station, and the ticket flew away. I wish it were like the Metrocard machine, where the ticket comes out partially and you have to actually take it out the machine.

Question 6: So you prefer the NYC Metrocard machine to the DC Metro machine?

Answer: Oh, yeah, definitely. It’s way easier to use. And it doesn’t spit tickets out at you!