Clearer UI For Routes From Arbitrary Start Points

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Introduction

Calculating and inspecting a route from an arbitrary location is a common requirement for many users. However, the current UI may not be clear enough to indicate that a route is being calculated immediately, and the 'Start' button applies to starting the turn-by-turn guidance, not the route calculation. Additionally, the fact that users can pull up the route's From/To context dialog to inspect the calculated route's details is not obvious or indicated, and is often overlooked by users. In this article, we will explore a UI idea to make it clearer that a route is being calculated and provide a better user experience.

Current UI Issues

The current UI has several issues that make it difficult for users to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location. Firstly, the 'Start' button is not clearly labeled as applying to the turn-by-turn guidance, rather than the route calculation. This can lead to confusion among users who are trying to calculate a route from a specific location. Secondly, the fact that users can pull up the route's From/To context dialog to inspect the calculated route's details is not obvious or indicated. This means that users may not be aware of the additional information available to them, and may not be able to access it even when they need it.

Proposed UI Changes

To address the current UI issues, we propose the following changes:

  • Clearly label the 'Start' button: The 'Start' button should be clearly labeled as applying to the turn-by-turn guidance, rather than the route calculation. This can be done by adding a label or a tooltip that indicates the button's function.
  • Indicate route calculation: The UI should indicate that a route is being calculated immediately. This can be done by displaying a progress bar or a loading animation while the route is being calculated.
  • Make the From/To context dialog more accessible: The From/To context dialog should be more accessible to users. This can be done by adding a button or a link that opens the dialog, and by making the dialog's contents more visible and easy to read.

Design Concepts

To implement the proposed UI changes, we can use the following design concepts:

  • Progress bar: A progress bar can be used to indicate that a route is being calculated. The progress bar can be displayed at the top of the screen, and can be updated in real-time as the route is being calculated.
  • Loading animation: A loading animation can be used to indicate that a route is being calculated. The loading animation can be displayed at the top of the screen, and can be updated in real-time as the route is being calculated.
  • Button or link: A button or a link can be used to open the From/To context dialog. The button or link can be displayed at the top of the screen, and can be labeled as "Route Details" or "Inspect Route".
  • Dialog design: The From/To context dialog should be designed to be easy to read and understand. The dialog should display the route's details, including the start and end points, the route's distance and duration, and any other relevant information.

Implementation

To implement the proposed UI changes, we can use the following steps:

  • Update the 'Start' button: The 'Start' button be updated to clearly label its function. This can be done by adding a label or a tooltip that indicates the button's function.
  • Add a progress bar or loading animation: A progress bar or loading animation should be added to indicate that a route is being calculated. This can be done by displaying a progress bar or loading animation at the top of the screen, and updating it in real-time as the route is being calculated.
  • Add a button or link to open the From/To context dialog: A button or a link should be added to open the From/To context dialog. This can be done by displaying a button or link at the top of the screen, and labeling it as "Route Details" or "Inspect Route".
  • Design the From/To context dialog: The From/To context dialog should be designed to be easy to read and understand. The dialog should display the route's details, including the start and end points, the route's distance and duration, and any other relevant information.

Benefits

The proposed UI changes will provide several benefits to users, including:

  • Improved clarity: The UI will be clearer and more intuitive, making it easier for users to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location.
  • Reduced confusion: The UI will reduce confusion among users who are trying to calculate a route from a specific location.
  • Increased accessibility: The UI will make it easier for users to access the From/To context dialog and inspect the calculated route's details.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed UI changes will provide a clearer and more intuitive UI for calculating and inspecting a route from an arbitrary location. The changes will improve clarity, reduce confusion, and increase accessibility for users. By implementing these changes, we can provide a better user experience and make it easier for users to use our application.

Future Work

Future work on this project could include:

  • Testing and iteration: Testing and iterating on the proposed UI changes to ensure that they meet the needs of users and provide a better user experience.
  • Additional features: Adding additional features to the From/To context dialog, such as the ability to save routes or share them with others.
  • Integration with other features: Integrating the proposed UI changes with other features of the application, such as the ability to search for routes or get directions.

References

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the proposed UI changes to make it clearer that a route is being calculated immediately, and the 'Start' button applies to starting the turn-by-turn guidance, not the route calculation. We also explored the fact that users can pull up the route's From/To context dialog to inspect the calculated route's details is not obvious or indicated, and is often overlooked by users. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the proposed UI changes.

Q: What is the main issue with the current UI?

A: The main issue with the current UI is that it is not clear that a route is being calculated immediately, and the 'Start' button applies to starting the turn-by-turn guidance, not the route calculation. This can lead to confusion among users who are trying to calculate a route from a specific location.

Q: How will the proposed UI changes improve the user experience?

A: The proposed UI changes will improve the user experience by making it clearer that a route is being calculated immediately, and the 'Start' button applies to starting the turn-by-turn guidance, not the route calculation. This will reduce confusion among users and make it easier for them to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location.

Q: What changes will be made to the From/To context dialog?

A: The From/To context dialog will be redesigned to be more accessible to users. A button or a link will be added to open the dialog, and the dialog's contents will be made more visible and easy to read.

Q: How will the progress bar or loading animation be implemented?

A: The progress bar or loading animation will be implemented to indicate that a route is being calculated. The progress bar or loading animation will be displayed at the top of the screen, and will be updated in real-time as the route is being calculated.

Q: What benefits will the proposed UI changes provide to users?

A: The proposed UI changes will provide several benefits to users, including improved clarity, reduced confusion, and increased accessibility. The UI will be clearer and more intuitive, making it easier for users to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location.

Q: How will the proposed UI changes be tested and iterated?

A: The proposed UI changes will be tested and iterated to ensure that they meet the needs of users and provide a better user experience. Feedback from users will be collected and used to make any necessary changes to the UI.

Q: What is the timeline for implementing the proposed UI changes?

A: The timeline for implementing the proposed UI changes will depend on the complexity of the changes and the resources available. However, it is expected that the changes will be implemented within the next few months.

Q: How will the proposed UI changes be integrated with other features of the application?

A: The proposed UI changes will be integrated with other features of the application to provide a seamless user experience. The changes will be designed to work with the existing features of the application, and will be tested to ensure that they do not introduce any new bugs or issues.

Q: What is the budget for implementing the proposed UI changes?

A: The budget for implementing the proposed UI changes will depend on the complexity of the changes and the resources required. However, it is expected that the changes will be implemented within the existing budget for the application.

Q: How will the proposed UI changes be communicated to users?

A: The proposed UI changes will be communicated to users through a variety of channels, including email, social media, and in-app notifications. Users will be informed of the changes and how they will benefit from them.

Q: What is the expected outcome of the proposed UI changes?

A: The expected outcome of the proposed UI changes is to provide a clearer and more intuitive UI for calculating and inspecting a route from an arbitrary location. The changes will improve the user experience and make it easier for users to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed UI changes will provide a clearer and more intuitive UI for calculating and inspecting a route from an arbitrary location. The changes will improve the user experience and make it easier for users to understand how to calculate and inspect a route from an arbitrary location. By answering these frequently asked questions, we hope to provide a better understanding of the proposed UI changes and how they will benefit users.