Nini Curcione | 2024 I.S. Symposium

Name: Nini Curcione
Title: Comprehensive Usability Testing and UX/UI Evaluation of Nˇi Haˇo Pe ́ngyoˇu: Advancing the Traveler’s Experience Through an Innovative Application
Major: Computer Science
Minors: Statistical & Data Sciences; Music
Advisors: Heather Guarnera; Dan Palmer

Inspired by an internship experience in Taipei, Taiwan, this application is designed to address the challenges faced by travelers, especially those encountering language barriers in navigating the public transportation system. As a Taiwanese-American with English as my primary language, the learning curve in adapting to Taipei’s transportation was significant, leading to the creation of Nı Hao Pengyou, an iOS application constructed with the Flutter framework and Google APIs. It features multi-mode transportation GPS, translation services, interactive maps, and emergency assistance, aiming to enhance travel convenience, accessibility, and safety. Throughout its development, a strong emphasis is placed on User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design principles to ensure the application meets the diverse needs of its users. The usability testing, involving 14 participants and two prototype applications, employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to thoroughly evaluate user experience and functionality. It was revealed that there was a preference for Prototype 2 due to its ease of use, search functionality, design, and potential for future use. The research underlined the importance of user feedback for refining app designs to boost intuitiveness, efficiency, and appeal.

Posted in Symposium 2024 on May 6, 2024.