Portfolio
Created by: Amelia Bryne, Neil McIntyre, Catherine Middleton
For: Community Wireless Infrastructure Research Project
Service: Usability Study
Date: 2007-2008
Project Description:
Usability design is a relatively new concept for political decision makers. As part of the Community Wireless Infrastructure Reserach Project, Deep Tech member Amelia Bryne co-designed a study and led a team to conduct research on how people use outdoor wireless networks that was designed specifically for a public sector audience. The team took into account usability factors related to devices (laptops, internet tablets, phones, etc.), the environment (weather, availability of appropriate seating and power outlets, etc.), and wireless technology (speed, reliability, etc.). We developed usability recommendations for cities and communities considering building outdoor wireless networks, including how to determine whether and where outdoor access makes sense, and shared our findings in the Canadian Journal of Communication in 2008.