1. Solo Traveller
Problems & Opportunities
Collaborative Workshop
School of Design, PolyU
Acadamy of Fine Arts, Tsing Hua University

2. Target User Group
Solo Culture Seekers
The culture seekers are those who enjoy travelling out-
side of their country/continent in search of different cul-
tural experiences. That is, westerners travelling to Africa,
Asia, etc. or Chinese travelling to South America or Eu-
rope, for example.
Cultural and language barriers only add to the excitement
and discovery of a new place.
The solo traveller chooses to visit a new destination to
explore a different way of living, gain new perspectives of
the world and to challenge oneself. We believe that this
group have strong characteristics of strong-willingness,
adaptability and sociability, but also have a long list of
needs regarding communication, health, equipment,
information and transportation.

3. User
Characteristics

7. Problems & Needs

8. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Situation1: Communication
Buy something
use calculator
chat with Mapsimple words gesture
ask the way
local people
Communication
Communication
gesture guess or ask
Comprehension
seek help (such as understand
the guidepostsignboard) The traveler's solution at present

9. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Situation2: Emergency
be lost
Waittry by themselves
phone
out of battery Hurt no more ideas self rescue
Communication
Emergency
Buy drugs It is my bad luck
be tricked
fall sick
by someone It is my bad luck
lose something
(cell phone The traveler's solution at present
Walletpassport)

10. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Situation3: plan a trip
the local map
route Search from the
bookinternet
the local level of Search from the
Accommodation Search from the
consumption bookinternet
bookinternet
Ask your friends
Search from the
Search from the
Communication bookinternet
bookinternet
The local currency plan a trip travel gear
Search from the Search from the
bookinternet bookinternet
Search from the
bookinternet
The local weather Flight Learn before
The local language The traveler's solution at present

11. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Situation4: record the journey
CameraDV
Cell pone Travel log
record
The needs round with the record:
1. CameraDV
Recording pen internet (Blog) 2. Travel log
3. Record pen
4. internet
5. sketch
6. Cell phone
sketch

12. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Situation5: funds
cash
exchange rate visa card
founds
The needs round with the funds:
the local level of 1. cash
Friendsfamilies 2. Visa card
consumption)
3. Exchange rate
4. Friendsfamilies
5. The local level of consumption
6. Earn on the way
Earn on the way

13. School of Design, HK POLYU Academy of Fine Arts, TsingHua University COLLABORATIVE workshop 2009
Emotional needs and problem
Travel gear for solo travelers
Cell phone Cashvisa
GPS exchange rate
Internet calculators
clothes
certificate funds
Mapbook
camera Magazine
DV record Local information handbook
Log
Blog travel gear
Contacts Communicate aids
Electric dictionary
Card
Cell phone
food drugs gesture
GPS
blog
Skype
email
Drug store
Medicine Surgery drugs

14. Weighted Matrix
A Portable device
doctor in different
A device that can
medical condition
store my medical
Visual thesaurus
that check my
displayed to
history and
Symptoms
languages
translator
CRITERIA WEIGHT
Record travel 3 0 1 0 2
Keep contact 1 1 2 1 2
Find food 2 1 1 1 1
Maintain health 3 3 3 3 1
Close communication gaps 3 2 3 3 3
Get local information 1 2 2 1 3
Administer funds 2 2 1 1 1
Dressed with proper attire 1 1 1 1 0
Access technological signals (GPS, WiFi) 2 1 1 1 1
TOTAL 13 15 12 14

15. Problem Scenarios
Health

32. Problem Scenario
Communication

33. May is embarking on a solo journey to Europe for a few months
Her concerned family and friends would like updates from her throughout her trip

34. May gets caught up in her exciting adventure and tends to forget to email or doesn’t like
the hassle of finding internet

35. She tried calling home but had so many problems of figuring out how to dial an international
number

36. Going to different countries had different methods of dialing so it would require learning
each time

37. May’s family and friends continue to worry about her and wonder whether she’s alright
when they hear from her so seldom.

40. Ideal Situation

41. << Final Storyboard here >>

50. Concept Direction
“Safety Net”

51. Stakeholders
Solo Traveller Family Medical Professional
Needs Needs Needs
freedom & independence know traveller’s wherabouts traveller’s medical history
time alone for reflection updates about user’s well-being understand situation & context
feeling of connection to loved ones emotional connection understand symptoms
sense of security & safety peace of mind
communication with locals

52. Layers of Information

53. Layers of Information

54. Layers of Information

55. Requirements
Wearable Solar-Powered
GPS