Waze — The Best GPS Navigation App?
Waze is a community-based GPS navigation app that is updated in real-time by its users. It does everything you could need in a GPS navigation app, and more. With a global community of 115 million people, Waze continues to offer its users practical solutions in getting them from point A to point B. What more? Well, to understand how Waze gained such a strong user base over the years, we will be looking closer into of the 3 following design principles: Usability, Accessibility and Ethics.
First, when we talk about usability, we are talking about how predictable, usable and expected a design is. How intuitive is Waze? How easily can a user learn the interface and then use the product? We also look into usability heuristics, such as: Learnability, Efficiency, Memorability, Errors and Satisfaction.
As a GPS navigation app, Waze is pretty straightforward. When you first open the app, you know that the blue arrow icon is you and where you are in real time. If you move, the arrow moves with you. Standard stuff. Then you have your two search options, one search icon and tab at the top of the app and the search icon at the bottom left. They each offer options and give suggestions to help the user make a quick decision. Going home? Work? Your best friends house? Surely, if it’s somewhere you go often, it is most likely in your recent trips or in your favorites. These options are nice as they help the user with their efficiency, memorability and learnability within the app.
After you enter the data or select any of the options, the most practical trip is displayed (see images below) along with the travel time, delays, options of choosing when to leave, other routes, adding a stop, and so on.
As one would expect a community-driven app to work in real time, you can add your data with just with a few clicks, making the process in reporting something really that simple (see 2 first images below). Trying to avoid tolls or freeways? Are you driving a regular car, electric car, motorcycle or are you in a taxi? The user has the freedom and control to change personalize the app in many ways.
When we talk about accessibility, in design, it means to design for inclusion. Does Waze offer an interface for all types of users? Can someone with a visual, auditory, mobility and dexterity, cognition and/or psychological and emotional disability use Waze just like any other user? Solving these kinds problems forces the designer to think outside the box, which often leads to solutions that truly are helpful and usable to everyone as a whole.
Waze has created filters that are there to assist all. For the auditory, you can choose what kind of sounds or instructions you’d like. Low, medium, loud, and off, whatever the user wants. You also have the option of using the voice command. Along with the feature, comes the instructions on how to use it with examples on what to tell Waze. When it comes to the visuals, you have options to personalize it as well. Do you prefer it darker? Lighter? What do you want to see during your trip? Do you feel the map is overcrowded with other elements? As for the general route mode, the purple trajectory line is great as it is contrasting with everything else displayed and keeps your eyes on your destination. The actionable buttons and the text throughout the app are also clear and easy to read.
Another nice feature worth talking about is the reminder of where you last parked your car. For someone who is sometimes (often) forgetful, I was so pleased to notice this the first time Waze actually helped me track down my car. Also, for someone who might have any kind of cognitive or memory issues, how wonderful! Everyone wins.
Finally, when it comes to ethics, we are looking at how transparent and helpful Waze truly is in doing its job for the user. As one of the users, I can confidently say that they are truly trying to get you to where to need to go in the most practical way. It is straightforward, clear and intuitive.
That being said, over the years, Waze gained popularity, not only with its users, but also with companies looking to advertise their products. Waze now has advertisements throughout the app. They are shown at the top of the page, while on route, where a pretty large button is displayed at the bottom of the ad that says “Drive there”. This feature can certainly come to play with ethics, however, it’s most likely considered to be more of an annoyance. Other than this feature, Waze proves to be straightforward, staying true to their purpose, showing the user efficient ways in getting to their destination.
Waze will continue to offer clear interactions and wazers will continue to enjoy being notified of upcoming police cars, being assisted help in finding their parked car and automatic rerouting to get to their destination quickest.
