The document discusses opportunities for Northeastern University to improve interactive wayfinding and collaboration between disciplines on campus. It notes that while the university values technology and interdisciplinary studies, there are missed opportunities for using existing infrastructure to its full potential. Specifically, it analyzes Northeastern's current campus maps, inconsistent college website designs, outdated student portal, and lack of mobile apps. Examples from MIT are provided of more innovative interactive technologies that could be implemented.

1. Interactive Design Group
Research Phase 1
Physical
Online
Mobile
Ubiquitous
Network
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2. Research Phase 1
Northeastern embraces
“technology” and “interdisiplinary
studies” as core values, yet there
are so many missed opportunities
for collaboration between
disciplines...
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3. Research Phase 1
Northeastern embraces Much of the technology
“technology” and “interdisiplinary infrastructure is in place – it’s just
studies” as core values, yet there not utilized to it’s full potential
are so many missed opportunities
for collaboration between
disciplines...
GdAM

4. Research Phase 1
Northeastern embraces Much of the technology The University has leading industry
“technology” and “interdisiplinary infrastructure is in place – it’s just experts from around the world, and
studies” as core values, yet there not utilized to it’s full potential... ample human capital. All it needs
are so many missed opportunities is a reason...
for collaboration between
disciplines...
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5. What Northeastern is currently doing
with interactive wayfinding...
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6. Do we have it?
Interactivity and Northeastern
The short answer is no. However, the potential for
Northeastern to embrace interactivity and its ever
growing possibilities is there. Northeastern has taken a
few steps to look like the high tech university that they
are. Unfortunately, they have come to a stop without
taking full advantage of the possibilities.
The pictures to the left show a relatively new setup
that Northeastern has put in the entrance sitting area
of Dodge Hall, one of the main business buildings
on campus. Two screens flank the sides of the area
on pillars (lower left picture), and a large 2X2 screen
set up (top left and bottom right) is centered at the
sitting area. Along with these screens are 3 computer
stations. Sadly, though they only allow the user to
log into myNEU. The possibilities with this setup are
numerous. While the screens themselves are not
touch screens, there could be ways to implement a
system where the user can chose what to display.
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7. The campus map...
Interactivity and Northeastern
By far an ineffective way to help people get from point
A to point B. Right now the campus map is a static
representation of the Northeastern campus. It tells the
viewer where they are and then they need to search
through the endless listings and find where they are
going, and somehow remember it after the viewer has
left the map.
At the very least it would be nice for a viewer to plot
their course and then have a print out to carry with
them at the campus map stations. However, there are
many possibilities to bring outdated campus maps
into the modern world.
Left, Northeastern
campus map. Right,
MIT campus map
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8. Interactive Web Features
campus map
this is what we have Northeastern’s online campus map is very outdated.
It is not easily accessible, it is fairly confusing, and it
is not quickly understood by most students.
This would be a quick and easy fix for Northeastern.
It would be simple to link an interactive, online map
to Google Maps in order to make wayfinding around
campus much easier.
click for northeastern’s map
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9. consistent design between
the websites of northeastern’s colleges
Interactive Web Features Northeastern’s online web presence is not strong due
to all of our school’s various colleges and programs of
study hosting completely different web designs. From
general studies, to journalism, to architecture - the
designs of these sites are all incredibly inconsistent.
If time was taken to redesign the large umbrella of
Northeastern’s websites in a much more consistent
manner, our university would come across as much
thorough, organized, and stable. This is imperative,
especially for a university of Northeastern’s caliber.
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10. Interactive Web Features integration of social
and creative networking
Northeastern’s student portal is severely outdated and
lacking in many areas. It is also difficult to navigate
and could benefit from a bit of a design facelift, so to
speak. On top of that, there is really nothing available
which could help students connect with one another
this is what we have
in order to better campus life.
click for myneu
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11. Currently: Mobile
“Discover Northeastern”
uses a Google map combined with simple explaina-
tions of building utilization. A good starting point, but
many opportunities for improvement.
“Go Huskies”
is the athletic department app. It has team scores,
standings, links to articles, news photos, and even
plays the “Husky Fight song” youTube video.
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12. Home screen with Browsing the map, Click on the arrow and “Get directions”
instructions clicking on any get more information. button takes you to
building will give you a non-mobile version
the name. of the Northeastern
website directions
page.
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13. You can search for Clicking on “Social You can browse “Info” brings you
any buildings, but media” brings you through a few here. All of the
nothing else... to this screen, which photos from the NU buttons link to
simply links to the media external pages.
respective non-mobile catalogue
sites.
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14. What are some good examples of
interactive wayfinding elsewhere?
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15. On-location Interactive Implementing new ideas
Precedents Northeastern is one of the top Boston schools, and
a top school in the United States, but it fails to
implement ideas and strategies that would reflect
that. The MIT media lab is a new building on the MIT
campus, and a quick stroll through the building shows
that they are dedicated to finding new and innovative
ways in media and technology.
The floors each have an interactive Samsung touch
screens that lets the user see what workshops
there are, and a sign up area for and the user so
they then can drag and drop themselves into a
slot. If Northeastern could implement a similar way
to sign up for appointments and programs in the
corresponding building, it would be far more efficient
than setting up appointments that require waiting in a
line or being on hold. Beyond that Northeastern needs
to find ways to bring interactivity to their campus
maps; online and on campus, and interactivity to
buildings and the student body.
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16. Interactive Web Features
this is what is possible campus map
click for bu’s map Many universities have already taken this step.
Boston University’s campus map, for example, has
not only linked with Google Maps but also displays
multiple, useful features such as “parking lots” and
“bike racks”. By merely checking and unchecking
those options, the map will display where one can find
those locations throughout campus.
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17. Interactive Web Features
integration of social
and creative networking
There are many easy ways for Northeastern to fix
these issues and make the student portal a much
more exciting place to visit. By incorporating social
and creative networking sites such as twitter and
flickr, students could advertise for campus activities,
post photos from events on campus, and share news
and art with one another.
click for global college
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18. Mobile: precedents It would be an oversight not to
mention the precedents set by
GPS wayfinding – the first mobile
interactive wayfinding tools. They
set the bar for what applications
now do.
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19. iPhone apps
Developers from
around the world
have developed apps
for wayfinding. They
range from:
simple scrollable
maps...
to (almost) ubiquitous
computing.
http://www.acrossair.com/acros-
sair_app_augmented_real-
ity_nearestsubway_newyork_for_
iPhone_3GS.htm
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20. Pathfinder:
Wayfinding for the
visually impaired
Using 2D barcodes,
RFID technology,
cameras, your cell
phone and wikipedia
– some interactive
designers are making
it easier for the blind
to see...
http://www.davidsweeneydesign.
com/project/wayfinding/
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21. And what possibilities
does the future hold?
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22. Ubiquitous
Computing
A vision of the future:
Intel UMPC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzeiUvDZog
What are the opportunities when our
mobile devices can really communicate
with each other and the environment
around us? Are we there already?
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23. The Human Network
Cisco (and Oglivy’s) Vision
What parts of our environment will be
interactive, and how will they change
the need for wayfinding activities?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAdfYgEapT8
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24. The Path to Solutions?
Northeastern embraces Much of the technology The University has leading industry
“technology” and “interdisiplinary infrastructure is in place – it’s just experts from around the world, and
studies” as core values, yet there not utilized to it’s full potential... ample human capital. All it needs
are so many missed opportunities is a reason...
for collaboration between
disciplines...
Put the money where your mouth Use the hardware we have and Tap into research – use what we
is. Universities have to embrace develop our own software. learn right here.
the change first – it can pay off
economically.
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25. Questions?
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26. Research
4d social: interactive de- David Sweeny Design Boston University site MIT Media Lab
sign environments David Sweeny Link Link
Lucy Bullivant (ed) Link Google-integrated cam- Visited for kiosk inspira-
Link Section on Pathfinder – pus map possibilities tion, research about in-
Inspiration for research wayfinding for the ehar- teractive wayfinding for
into ubiquitous comput- ing impaired building maps
ing
designworkplan.com Google Maps acrossair.com The Wayfinding and many more...
Sander Baumann Google Earth Link Handbook
Link Google Sketchup Seeing the possibilities of David Gibson
Insights into iPhone Link augmented reality apps Link
apps for wayfinding ans It’s really inspirational if now... Screenshot and Overview for research,
screenshots of the apps you think about it... youtube video specifically the overview
of electronic media
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