Focusing the First Phase – An Interdisciplinary Approach to Modeling an Interactive System on the Use-Case Indoor-Blind-Navigation

Abstract

Concepts such as “resource” or “system” pose a challenge when it comes to adapting to the context. So the main problem is to adapt the concepts and the development process to the requirements of the users. The user is not only the methodological foundation of the concepts, but also a resource and a component of the system. Therefore, the initial phase of the development process becomes crucial. In order to explore the basic requirements of the product and the requirements of the potential use, it is necessary to combine several methods for interactive modeling. By linking qualitative research methods and formal iteration processes, new insights are generated. For handling the complexity of the problem, the experiences of AppPlant, Gräbert GmbH and a team at Leipzig University are applied. The project “Outdoor and Indoor Navigation for Blind and Visually Impaired People” (IBN) combines systems research with the application of social methods to improve successful human-machine interaction. The developed solution is based on the term “interactive system” of ISO 9241–11 as a methodological starting point. The key concept for an interactive system is usability, which describes the extension to “which a system, product or service can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use”. In order to focus on user requirements, the iterative approach of Design Thinking, TRIZ Modeling and Mixed Methods of social sciences were combined.