Passenger Information Design: A Systems Approach

Other conference contribution, 1996

The paper describes the results of and experiences from the project "Passenger Information - Needs and Requirements", part of the R&D program GoTIC (Gothenburg Traffic Information Centre). One conclusion is that a passenger information system needs to be based on three basic functions: A communicative function (to help passengers recognise different information artefacts in the system), a pedagogical function (to enable passengers to quickly learn and be acquanted with the information system), and an operational function (to reduce uncertainty felt by passengers when faced with situations involving a choice). The purpose of information is reduction of uncertainty. By focusing on information as reduction of uncertainty, the individual passenger (user of information) and his/her conscious and unconscious questions provide the basis for the design of the information system.