User Centred Design and Geographic Information
In September 2009, Ordnance Survey began a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Nottingham, part supported by the Technology Strategy Board.
The aim of this partnership is to develop a set of User Centred Design (UCD) tools for the evaluation and design of geographic information and implement them within the organisation. This process will allow Ordnance Survey to create products that are better matched the needs of its customers improve the experience for users of our products.
UCD is a field of research has existed for many years within the world of software and hardware design, but few have implemented it with the design of information products. Over the fifteen months, over a dozen different tools have been developed to help identify user needs, evaluate product usability and generally improve our design process. These tools are currently being tested with a range of different Ordnance Survey products and user groups.
For more information, email Dr Sarah Sharples.