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Enhancing Travelers' Experience with WAP-Enabled Cell Phones in Phoenix

This study explores Phoenix's utilization of WAP-enabled cell phones for disseminating traveler information. Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of these phones in providing traffic information. Findings revealed user perceptions, feedback on content, and ease of learning WAP functions. The study highlighted challenges such as service reliability and user training needs. Recommendations were made for service providers and lessons learned for future implementations. Insights from the experiment informed the deployment of Arizona's 511 traveler information system.

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Enhancing Travelers' Experience with WAP-Enabled Cell Phones in Phoenix

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  1. Phoenix’s Experience withTraveler Information DisseminationUsing WAP-Enabled Cell Phones Chris Cluett (Battelle Seattle) Jeff Jenq (Battelle Phoenix) Faisal Saleem (MCDOT Phoenix) ITS America Annual Meeting: Session #34 Minneapolis, MN May 20, 2003

  2. WAP Phone Experiment • WAP = Wireless Application Protocol • WAP-enabled cell phones allow access to e-mail and the Internet • Maricopa County DOT distributed WAP phones to 14 local transportation personnel in Phoenix metro area in the fall of 2000 • TrafficStation offered traffic information on phones (service terminated 8/01) • Battelle asked to survey WAP phone users

  3. Mitsubishi/AT&T T250 WAP Phone

  4. TrafficStation Automatic Traffic Alert Options

  5. Evaluation Objectives • Document phone use • Characterize users • Measure user perceived benefits • Obtain user feedback on: • Message content • Information presentation format • Information reliability • Assess ease of learning WAP functions • Assess future potential for WAP technology

  6. Evaluation Approach • 12 of 14 WAP phone users interviewed (plus 1 written) • Telephone interviews conducted Oct. 5-19, 2001 • Interview guide prepared and distributed ahead • Amount of usage (WAP and/or other cell phone) • Training? Ease of learning? • Usual travel patterns • Use and perceived usefulness of WAP features • Experience with setting up and using travel profiles • Use and usefulness of traffic information • What works & what doesn’t work well with WAP phone • Attitudes and opinions regarding WAP

  7. How Often Do You Have These With You?

  8. What Was Helpful to You in Learning to Use the WAP Phone?

  9. Frequency of Use of WAP Phone Features

  10. Reported Usefulness of WAP Phone Features

  11. Reported Usefulness of Sources ofTraffic Information

  12. What Can We Learn from this WAP Experiment? • Reliability • Service reliability problems reported by many users • Design of WAP experiment • Separation of voice and data modes affects ease of use; users had to check email to see pushed traffic alerts • Convenience versus purposive user sample selection • WAP is very new; users needed more training • Contextual issues as factors affecting WAP use • Availability of alternate routes • Relatively low overall levels of traffic congestion • Quality of information

  13. What Can We Learn? (continued) • Lessons from the WAP experiment • Guidance for the service providers • Deployment of Arizona’s 511 traveler information system benefited from the WAP experience • AZTech is expanding the quality and coverage of data under their Data Quality Initiative, including integration of transit, airport, event, and RWIS data in urban and rural areas

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