Allowing for safe text while driving
In the beginning of 2015, Telenav, a company known for pioneering technology in mapping and navigation, sought to launch an app that combined voice communication with navigation in the car.
Challenge
While navigation and ETA sharing were seen as nice features in the initial release, there was a lot of resistance to users automatically sharing their location when they entered a chat. We discovered in user testing that people mostly sought a safe and easy way to send messages whenever they were driving, not just when they were navigating.
Solution
After months of iteration we released a complete overhaul of the app that focused on three main components:
1. Driver friendliness
2. Cross-device messaging
3. Easy adoptability
Since release, the total number of daily, active users increased by 400% and consistently trends up after the mapless design update.
Company
Telenav • 2015
Role
Branding
UX Design
UI Design
Prototyping
Quality Assurance
Marketing
Web Design & Development
Collaborators
2 Designers:
- Lowell Goss
- Alex Yee
8 Developers
Swipe to change chats
This glance-able design keeps drivers' eyes on the road. No more reaching for that small icon. Use the avatars to see who you're talking to, and swipe left to easily switch to your most recent chats.
Large tap areas make sending a message easy
Chatbaka records your voice in 10 second snippets. After recording, a transcript and voice file are sent to your chat. These messages can be sent to any device via MMS.
Auto-play messages
Incoming messages are read aloud as you drive, so you don't have to look at your screen. The purple background indicates you're in playback mode. If new messages appear in another chat, the notifications button at the top will alert you.
A more drivable chat list
Large tiles create easily tappable areas to switch groups on-the-go. Groups with unchecked messages get pinned to the top, and your most recent group will always be on the top left.
Text mode as a message history
Use Text Mode when you're not driving, but your friends may be. Send a text to them, and they will hear it read out loud.
This is where everything sent is stored. You can also listen to past audio messages by tapping the play button next to the transcript.
Opportunities to integrate with other social apps
Now that Chatbaka is establishing itself as a driver friendly solution, we are looking to integrate with other apps that people want in the car. It will act as a driver friendly platform to stay connected behind the wheel. Slack is the first of many integrations to come.
