Ranger
Hikers go-to companion for staying safe while on the trail
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Project Overview
“Ranger helps hikers not worry about their safety so they can get out there and explore!”
Embarking on a hiking adventure is a gateway to nature's splendor and an opportunity for personal growth. However, the allure of the wilderness comes with its own challenges, ranging from safety concerns to unpredictable weather and navigation mishaps. This makes it hard for hikers to enjoy their adventures fully and limits the number of hikes they go on.
Ranger is an app that is specifically designed for hikers and outdoor adventurers. It puts them in control by allowing them to quickly and easily call for help or notify their safety contacts. It has a few other key functions, such as current alerts, displaying cell service areas, and recording routes.
Ranger combines cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of hikers’ needs, culminating in a comprehensive safety net that empowers every hiker to venture confidently into the great outdoors.
Who are Hikers and Adventurers?
HIKERS
Hiking is a recreational outdoor activity involving walking or trekking along trails, paths, or natural landscapes, usually in forests, mountains, deserts, or countryside. Hikers often undertake this activity for various reasons, including exercise, exploration of nature, relaxation, adventure, and personal challenges. Hiking can range from easy walks on well-maintained paths to more strenuous and demanding journeys that require a higher level of physical fitness and outdoor skills. Hikers may also carry backpacks with supplies, such as water, food, and safety gear, especially for longer or more remote hikes.
ADVENTURERS
Outdoor adventurers actively seek and engage in various recreational activities and experiences in natural and outdoor environments. These activities often involve physical challenges, exploration, and a close interaction with nature. Outdoor adventurers are drawn to various activities, including hiking, camping, rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, and more. The motivation behind outdoor adventuring can vary from seeking thrill and excitement to finding tranquility and a deeper connection with the natural world. These adventurers typically embrace the elements and often push their physical and mental boundaries to experience the rewards and personal growth from engaging with nature in its raw form.
My Role
I drove the project from concept to completion, but received consistent feedback and guidance from my amazing mentor, Radu Vucea (Leading AR/VR Design @ Reality Labs at Meta).
Responsibilities
User research, Information Architecture, Site Mapping, Wireframing, Prototyping, Concept Testing, and Usability Testing. All research and testing was unmoderated and conducted remotely.
Tools
- Figma - Design and Prototyping
- FigJam - User Flows, Affinity and Empathy Mapping
- Lookback - Conducting Unmoderated Video Interview, Recording, and Transcribing the sessions
- Google Forms - Research Survey
- Confluence - Project Management
Solutions Overview
Notify Safety Contacts
Ranger provides a simple and effective way to notify your loved ones in case of unexpected situations on the trail. Ensure that your friends and family are informed about your well-being and see your real-time progress.
Map Markers
Map Markers are what make Ranger really shine. Easily drop markers on your map to indicate critical points. You can also display markers, such as cell service coverage area, water sources, and other key landmarks.
Emergency SOS
Ranger makes it easy to signal for help when you need emergency assistance.
Current Alerts & Conditions
Don't get caught off guard. Stay informed with location-based alerts and current weather conditions. This helps you make informed decisions while on the trail.
Record Routes
Easily record your routes in real-time using GPS tracking. Keep a digital journal of your hikes, complete with speed, distance, duration, and elevation.
Activity Summary
With Ranger, you can track and review your hiking activities, including speed, distance, elevation gain, and duration, ensuring you have all the information you need to make your hikes safer and more enjoyable.
Early Findings
Discovering Hikers’ Motivations
Hikers often find themselves hesitant to embark on solo hiking adventures due to a range of understandable concerns. The wilderness, while alluring in its beauty and serenity, also presents inherent risks that can feel magnified when alone. Worries about getting lost without a companion to navigate, the potential for injuries with no immediate aid, or encountering unexpected wildlife can trigger anxiety.
Additionally, the solitude that draws many to the trails can paradoxically lead to feelings of vulnerability, as the absence of human presence might evoke a sense of isolation. While solo hiking offers unique introspection and a deep connection with nature, these fears remind hikers of the importance of preparation, self-reliance, and caution in order to strike a balance between adventure and personal safety.
My goal is to help Hikers and Adventurers stay safe while on the trail and give them the confidence to travel alone. I know that hikers are often hesitant to embark on solo adventures due to possible threats. However, I have a limited understanding of what would make them feel secure. As a result, my research aims to learn what would make hikers and adventurers feel safe while on the trail, and give them the confidence they need to embark on solo hikes.
Going to the source
To help validate some of my assumptions, I went to the source and conducted five generative interviews. I greatly enjoyed hearing directly from fellow hikers. Their passion was evident in their responses. That's why I love conducting user interviews. It's so rewarding to hear their thoughts and opinions. They have a vested interest because they are passionate about the subject matter and genuinely want to have a more enjoyable experience.
During the research process, I noticed that there were some patterns and recurring behaviors among the participants. This helped me identify key barriers and pain points. Want to take a closer look? Check out the Empathy Map.
- Hikers rarely, or have never, hiked alone due to not feeling safe and secure on the trail.
- Hikers often get lost due to not having accurate trail information.
- Weather conditions often dictate the hiker's level of enjoyment and satisfaction.
- Hikers are concerned with encountering dangerous animals or disease-carrying bugs and insects.
I also conducted a thorough Competitive Analysis. I needed to understand what features other apps were highlighting and what was missing. From my interviews, it became clear that safety needed to have a higher priority; the currently available products weren't solving the issue.
Bryant
Elaine
"I went hiking with a friend and we kind of more or less knew the route, but we weren't exactly 100% um, we kind of got lost and ended up like way off the beaten path
Shirley
"I am highly concerned about ticks!"
Pearl
Corey
"We had to sleep with our tent kind of zipped open and all the mosquitoes got in. So I just got so bit.”
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
The
Challenge
Hikers are often afraid to hike alone, because they’re worried about their safety
My research revealed that hikers would love to increase their number of hikes, but they are often hesitant to embark on solo treks due to various concerns. Worries about getting lost without a companion to navigate, the potential for injuries with no immediate aid, or encountering unexpected wildlife or disease-inducing insects can trigger anxiety and keep them from getting on the trail.
Current hiking apps don’t prioritize safety
Many current hiking apps, while providing valuable information and convenience to outdoor enthusiasts, often fall short in prioritizing safety as a central aspect of their design. While these apps excel in offering features like trail maps, reviews, and community sharing, their focus on promoting the aesthetic and recreational aspects of hiking can sometimes overshadow the importance of safety precautions. Vital information such as emergency contacts, weather alerts, and real-time location tracking might not be as prominently displayed as they should be. This can inadvertently lead users to underestimate the potential risks associated with outdoor activities.
An Opportunity To Prioritize Safety
My aim in designing Ranger is to help reduce the challenges and safety concerns that hikers face, so that they have the confidence to get out there and explore, whether it’s with a group of friends or solo.
Initial Concepts
Information Architecture
As a safety-first product, Ranger's Information Architecture provides easy access to critical features while simplifying navigation.
Discover
- The Discover screen is the heart of Ranger. It features Alerts and Current Conditions at the top, which helps hikers stay informed of potential dangers.
Community
- Connect with friends or follow other hikers. Join a local group and meet them on their next hike.
Navigate
- Record Routes
- Add or display Map Markers, such as water sources, cell service, and more.
Safety
- Quickly and easily contact Emergency SOS, Notify Safety Contacts, or view Current Alerts and Conditions.
Profile
- See an Activity Summary of your daily, monthly, or yearly stats. Keep track of your progress and share it with your friends.
Say Hello To Kate
In an effort to keep my design process as real as possible, I created a fictional persona named Kate. This allowed me to better understand the struggles, limitations, goals, and successes that hikers face on a personal level.
USER PERSONA
Kate grew up in the Midwest, but her love for the outdoors moved her to Utah after graduating college. She works as an educator during the week and likes to explore the Utah slot canyons on her weekends. She finds spending time outside therapeutic and loves to discover new trails. Kate considers herself to be a skilled hiker, but she feels unsafe traveling alone. She’d like to go hiking more often because it’s how she stays in shape, but she finds it difficult to coordinate with friends’ schedules.
View Persona
Let's Look At A Couple of Kate's Flows
User Flows are visual representations that provide insight into how users interact with products. My goal is to make sure Kate's flow is intuitive and efficient.
USER SCENARIO
Display Cell Service
While hiking, Kate wants to see where she'll have cell service on the trail. She browses the app and selects "Map." She then taps the menu arrow and selects "Map Markers." She taps "Cell Service" to display the locations where others have found service.
USER SCENARIO
Notify Safety Contacts
Kate wants to let her friends know where she's at, so they aren't worried about her hiking alone. She browses the app and selects "Safety." She then taps "Notify Contacts" and selects the friends she wants to inform. She then taps "Notify" to send them a message, letting them know her current location.
Gathering Feedback And Iterating
Testing The Solution
Usability Testing involves real users, which represent the app's target audience, ensuring that feedback is both relevant and valuable. I conducted unmoderated usability tests with five new participants. Their skill level ranged from backpacking for multiple days in the Teton mountains to casual hikes on easy trails.
This testing process is aimed at ensuring that the app is intuitive, user-friendly, and effectively serves its primary mission of enhancing hikers' safety in the wilderness.
Key Findings
- Users had trouble recording their routes
- Users couldn't find how to display map markers
- Users couldn't figure out how to add map markers
- Users couldn't easily find sunset and sunrise times
Jamie
"It's not entirely intuitive to me that I would want to hit this like drop down next to the start or pause to get to the...map marker functionality."
"How would you find sunset time? All right...So I'm struggling a little bit with navigation here...Where would I find the sunset time? Well, typically I'd be able to find it in like my weather app, but I'm only seeing temperature and its current conditions."
Liz
Ciara
Recording Routes
Displaying Map Markers
Adding Map Markers
Finding Sunset and Sunrise Times
Take Ranger For A Spin!
Overcoming Challenges
Designing with An Autoimmune Disease
Designing a new mobile app like Ranger, with a primary focus on keeping hikers safe during their outdoor adventures, was a rewarding but challenging journey. Throughout this project, I also faced a personal challenge. I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and became hearing impaired. This unexpected obstacle brought forth a unique set of challenges that pushed me to reevaluate and adapt my design approach.
As I navigated my daily life with hearing impairment, I became acutely aware of the barriers that people with disabilities often face when interacting with digital products. This experience served as a constant reminder of the need for inclusive design. The realization of the importance of accessibility motivated me to prioritize clear and concise visual cues within the app. Ranger needed to be a tool that ensured safety and confidence for all, regardless of physical ability or limitation.
The process of designing Ranger while hearing impaired also presented a significant challenge. I relied on closed captions for collaboration and utilized unmoderated user testing. Modern tools like Lookback helped bridge the gap caused by my hearing loss.
In the end, the challenges I faced during the design of Ranger served as a powerful reminder that adversity can lead to innovation. It pushed me to think outside the box, prioritize accessibility, and collaborate more effectively. It reinforced the app's mission of safety and empowerment, not only for hikers but for everyone, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. Ranger isn't just about navigating trails; it's also about navigating life's unexpected challenges and finding solutions that make the journey safer and more inclusive for all.
Next Steps
As Ranger's user base grows, iterations and updates will be necessary to keep the app up-to-date and make sure it's an effective and enjoyable solution. There are a number of features that didn't make the initial design, such as:
Voice-Activated Commands: Considering the importance of hands-free operation during outdoor activities, integrating voice-activated commands into Ranger would be beneficial.
Community-Driven Safety Reporting: Expanding the app's community features, Ranger could allow users to report safety-related incidents or issues they encounter on the trails. This information could be shared with local authorities, park rangers, and other hikers to improve overall trail safety.
Wildlife Tracking and Alerts: For hikers in areas with abundant wildlife, Ranger could incorporate wildlife tracking features. The app could provide alerts about nearby wildlife encounters, helping hikers take appropriate precautions and maintain a safe distance from potentially dangerous animals.
Advanced Weather Data: Integrating more advanced weather data sources, such as real-time weather radar and satellite imagery, can provide hikers with highly detailed weather information. This helps them better anticipate changing weather conditions during their hikes.
Multi-Platform Integration: Expanding the availability of Ranger to various platforms, including smartwatches,
All of these options sound like good additions, but user feedback will ultimately guide the implementation of new features. Research and testing of these features will be mandatory so that Ranger will continue to put safety first and make sure hikers and adventurers have an amazing experience.