melbourne’s public transport ticketing system
MATTHEW SUTIANTO s3137268
1. BACKGROUND 2. FLAWS OF CURRENT MACHINES 3. MYKI DELAYED 4. CURRENT SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD 5. RFID TECHNOLOGY; HISTORY 6. RFID TECHNOLOGY; HOW IT WORKS 7. INITIAL CONCEPTS 8. DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPTS 9. METHODOLOGIES 10. INCLUSIVE DESIGN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This semester the Inclusive Design project will be focused on the redesign of Melbourne’s Public Transport Ticketing System. Personally having to use public transport on a daily basis for numerous years, there have been many observations made where the ticketing machines have caused inconveniences and deemed to be impractical. Hence through research and concept development, redesigns made to the system could improve this situation, benefiting commuters and the way that they travel on public transport. The main questions challenging this design project are “What needs to be improved?”, “Why it needs to be improved?” and “How will this improvement benefit commuters?” The final outcomes for this project will result in an improved type of credit storing object, the way in which you purchase it, as well as the way in which you use/ validate it. This project aims to be implemented in Melbourne by the year 2030.
BACKGROUND
RESEARCH: FLAWS OF CURRENT MACHINES
One of the main downfalls of Melbourne’s current public transport ticket machines is the unclear purchase process for first time or infrequent users. This is commonly the case for commuters such as international students new to the country, children and the elderly. The decision whether to purchase a ‘FullFare’ or a ‘Concession-Fare’, which train line/ zone they intend to use and travel to, how long they intend to travel for and using the machines interface add to the list of impracticality. Hence, why these users would rather choose to purchase the ticket from the station’s vendors/ bus drivers where they can ask the ticket staff for some assistance, or they end up purchasing the wrong ticket which can lead up to a penalty/fine. Another downfall to these ticketing machines is that they can build up queues, causing commuters to miss their bus, train or tram. Reasons for this are caused by the machines taking too long to process (as there is a slight pause after each time money is inserted individually or when validating the ticket), the tactility
of the buttons (when paying by card), the unreliability of the machine (returns the coins or notes back out or is out of order), due to the unclear purchase process for irregular users or simply because there aren’t enough accessible machines at certain locations. These machines have shown to be inconvenient in that there isn’t any note exchanger anywhere, it doesn’t allow more than 10 dollars in change when paying with notes, it only returns coins in change, only one coin at a time can be inserted and because it’s a repetitive process being disposable paper tickets. This also affects the environment in the sense that it wastes paper having to continually purchase tickets on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. There is however the option of the yearly ticket, but in most cases they are too expensive to afford for the average person or they’re not even needed as the commuter may not even travel on public transport every day of the week.
Studies show that the current ticketing system in Melbourne is not the most practical of systems, hence why the Victorian State Government has tried to implement the “MYKI”. In theory, MYKI looked to replace the Metcard and V/Line paper cards with a more durable and reusable smart card that’s able to store money/ credit. MYKI was conceptually a good idea and appeared to be the right solution for Melbournian commuters, as similar cards are already successfully operating around the world. The convenience of this system was obviously to eliminate having to pay with cash/ coins and even eliminating the hassle of purchasing tickets in general. It basically works as a prepaid card that deducts from your credit each time you use it. It also calculates the cheapest fare for you as you only pay for what you use. Because it is a reusable card, there was no need to buy new ones, hence why you were able to use the card over and over again (which needs topping up when low) across all forms of public transport services.
RESEARCH: MYKI...DELAYED
This system was supposed to resolve these current purchasing ticket problems, but failed in the process. Having failed 10 percent of the tests prior to the launch date, MYKI is currently 2 years overdue and looks to remain as an uncertain idea of the future for Melbourne. MYKI’s downfall lied within its hardware and software reliability failing to perform on the day. During the trial of the system on bus routes between the Geelong railway station and Bellarine Peninsula (2007), commuters had problems with scanning successfully (hence getting charged more than what they should have), the bus driver’s machines software crashed several times and needed rebooting (throwing the route schedule/ timetable overtime) and even failing to accept notes in some of the machines. There are still many issues and flaws that are evident within the system that holds this whole MYKI concept back. However, it appears that currently, the Victorian Transport Government are trying to re-release the MYKI by placing the scanning machines back on trams.
Countries and cities around the world have updated their public transport ticketing systems to new age technology. Places such as London, Singapore and Taipei all use what’s called ‘Smartcard’ technology. Replacing the disposable paper cards, the durable and reusable plastic cards are implemented with tags known as ‘RFID Technology’ (Radio Frequency Identification). RFID basically uses radio waves to emit and transmit signals via wireless communication and has 2 main parts: one part used for storing and processing and the other part used for receiving and transmitting. These smartcards are able to store credit and deduct everytime they are in use via a scanning method located on entry/ exit points of public transport gateways and stations. This ‘pay as you go’ concept has several advantages that surpass paper tickets such as single fares being significantly cheaper, the credit that is used does not expire and is only used when needed, the daily price capping feature that automatically calculates the cheapest fare for the entire journey and also the automatic top up of credit when it falls below a certain value.
RESEARCH: CURRENT SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD
The first use of RFID technology has been said to date back as far as World War II. It was the British that initially came up with the idea to install radio transponders in Allied aircrafts to basically help crews to distinguish the good guys from bad guys. During the 1960s the first set of chips were developed, whereby the use of these tags was to electronically monitor delivery trucks coming in and out of secure facilities by the US government. These RFID tags became particularly popular in the '80s, which were being used to track things such as farm animals and railroad cars which were hard to manage. The market for RFIDs has recently exploded in the past several years, due to the fact of the advances in computer databases and the easily available materials.
RESEARCH: RFID TECHNOLOGY; HISTORY
RESEARCH: RFID TECHNOLOGY; HOW IT WORKS
RFID Technology consists of two corresponding devices, the tag and the reader. The reader emits a special signal towards the tag which is able to be scanned at a distance. For protection purposes, the tags are able to be encrypted with passwords and codes which will make it difficult for anyone to abuse. However, not all RFID tags come with security. It will be more expensive to purchase a tag with the encryption capabilities. With ever evolving technology, the tags themselves are not very expensive to buy.
Positives of RFID Tags: - Contactless processing is much more faster and convenient -The tags are able to be encrypted for security -This type of technology is already being used all over the world -Far more superior and cheaper than the magnetic strip -They are durable and less tamper proof -As technology develops, the tags become smaller and more powerful Negatives of RFID Tags: -Depending on the tag, some are unsecure which are open to hacking, misuse and fraudulency -Devices are able to be built to interfere with signals and reception -The range of the reader is limited
Current Uses: -Access keys to some new cars -Retail inventory tracking devices -Will be used in credit cards and passports -Toll booths -Manages animals and insects and possibly humans
INITIAL CONCEPTS
DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPTS
The key drive of the project is to try and understand what Melbourne commuters need. Participatory research and inclusive design work hand in hand together to ensure that what is being produced is what the consumers really need as a solution. This part of the research takes two forms; primary research being generated by myself in order to obtain certain information (may take the form of surveys, questionnaires, observation) and secondary being research involving already existing information formed by others in the same field of research. Research is the most significant part of designing in that it provides information and knowledge needed to know what to produce/ design. Project “Redesigning Melbourne’s Ticket Machines” will be conducted through 2 stages. (1) Research; of current society, and (2) Translation: producing a design that conveys the new methodology/ paradigm. After the analysing, understanding, reflecting and interpreting
METHODOLOGIES
phase, the generation and production of these ideas and information will occur. There will also be more research to be carried out with the experimentation of material choices (recycled materials), manufacturers and costs and basic standards of production. The methodologies that will be used are Qualitative Research; observation of commuters, Environmental Studies, Quantitative Research; testing current theories and ideas, User Centred Design; the needs of the user, Prototyping; generating and testing developmental concepts and Mock Up; which are resolved solutions based on the completion of the 2 stages. Considerations such as how it’s produced, how much it costs to produce, where it’s produced and what effects there are on the environment will have to be looked at. Once this and the Environmental Studies is completed, the Qualitative Research will be used in conjunction with User Centred Design to produce newly formed ideas of what the resolved outcomes could be like.
Having gathered and compiled all the information and research, the needs of the user must always be kept in mind when designing. When the designs have been finalized and answer most of the criteria, the generation of prototype production will be next, which tests the developmental concepts. Once completely resolved (opinions of outsiders approval), the prototypes will be refined into Mock Ups for potential production. The plan for using these methodologies will generally progress in sequential order. The flow of each step is easy to follow and makes sense in setting up for the next stage. No part of stage 2 will be designed without having considered all information discovered from stage 1. Without the research completed the designs would not be useful as the designs would therefore be a result of my assumptions which are not entirely accurate.
Out of the 7 principles of Universal Design, the main principles that relate to this project are Flexibility in Use and Simple and Intuitive Use. Because my outcome is designed for the general public that are commuters anyone from a young teenager all the way up to a senior citizen could potentially use public transport. Whether it be to travel to school, work or leisure purposes, the range of users that need and use public transport is undoubtedly diverse. Hence why my design outcomes need to be flexible in its use and also simple and intuitive so that these range of people are able to use the tickets and machines where no one is excluded. Comparing the different generations of ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘B’, every person within these categories understand and perceive things differently. Therefore my aim is to design a ticket system that could potentially be used by all with ease and comfort, which will benefit their lives by making purchasing a ticket one less hassle to worry about.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN: HOW THEY RELATE TO THE DESIGN PROJECT