Design and development criteria of a public transit informationsystem

Abstract

Public Transit Information System is an online transportation system providing

integrated transit journey planning solutions to the general public. Generally, the

system requires users to input their places of departure and arrival as well as some

preferences such as the shortest or cheapest path. The system will then generate the

results with transit schedule, route, fare and so forth. Since the system is designated

for public usage, it is important that the system not only meets the needs of its users,

but also is easily operated by the general public with different level of computer skills.

Thus, this paper explores the design criteria of public transit information system by

reviewing the development of user interface design from previous research and

comparing the user interfaces of the public transit information systems of Hong Kong,

Singapore and Vancouver. This paper also studies the transit systems of these three

places and thereby concludes that the diverse and complex transit network of Hong

Kong makes it difficult in developing such a system. This paper concludes that

aesthetics, consistency and effective error management are the technical design

criteria that can improve the usability of public transport information systems. In

addition, technicians should also consider the social aspects, such as computer literacy

and the computer systems when designing products for the public.