NYMS

Jennifer, a 19 year old college student, just arrived at Penn Station in New York City on Saturday, after taking the Bolt Bus from Boston. She’s planning to attend her aunt’s surprise birthday party. Before leaving Boston, she received directions from her a relative on how to get to her aunt’s house in Queens. After going into the subway tunnels, she studies the subway map, and looks at her relative’s directions. She gets on the train the directions specify, and after traveling a few stops, realizes that everyone exits the train. She gets off to, and realizes that there has been a schedule change and she needs to transfer. The stop that she’s currently on is unattended, and she tries to orient herself on the subway map. She eventually asks a stranger the proper route to get the her stop in Queens. She arrives at
the party late, distraught and fatigued.

Dan is a father of three boys. He often travels to and from New York City for his work as a non-profit consultant. His travel around the city is often routine. He doesn’t get to spend as much time with the boys as he would like. When his schedule permits he likes to take his kids for night on the town or baseball game as a surprise. He is fairly confident when traveling but since he doesn’t travel far from his work while in NYC, he doesn’t know the city well. Often he knows where to go but isn’t quite sure the best way to get there. He feels embarrased having to ask for directions and doesn’t want to deal with a cumbersome map while looking after three kids. The ability to print directions on the go appeals to Dan because of its convenience. Its simple interface allows him to watch his kids and be on his way before he has time to say “PLAY BALL!”

Sarah is 26 years old and works at a dental office uptown Manhattan, half an hour away from her apartment in midtown.  She’s lived in New York City for 5 years and still hates to commute to work.  She easily gets frustrated during rush hour or when there are train delays.  She misses home a lot where she knew everybody in town and didn’t get as flustered by all the people as she does in New York.  Whenever her usual train stops running or there’s construction she always has to ask someone for directions or tries to find her way by looking at the map, but usually with no luck she ends up lost seventy-five percent of the time.  Every Friday she meets with her friends for dinner and drinks.  They’ll text her to her BlackBerry phone, the address and name of the place they’re meeting.  However, Sarah, and all of her friends, already know she’s always the one to show up late.