Navigating complex spaces like airports, hospitals, and shopping malls can be daunting in today’s fast-paced world. Verifind, a groundbreaking service, is set to change wayfinding by leveraging cutting-edge eye-tracking technology. We hear from Martha McRobb, the project lead behind Verifind at Modulex, to discuss this innovative tool and its potential impact on the industry.
What is Verifind?
“Verifind uses advanced eye-tracking technology to study how people interact with visual cues and communication elements when moving through a space”, Martha explains. We can identify areas where people might get confused or lost by analysing factors like how long they look at something and where they focus their gaze. This analysis allows the team to offer recommendations for optimising wayfinding efficiency centred around human-centric design principles. Currently, Verifind reviews existing navigation plans, and we hope that in the future, it can also help in creating better plans for buildings still under construction.
The Purpose of Verifind
Martha states that Verifind’s primary purpose is to enhance navigational experiences across various environments, ensuring ease of access and reducing frustration. “How many times have you wandered around a building, unable to find your destination? Verifind seeks to eliminate such scenarios, by creating smooth navigation experiences and reducing the stress that comes with getting lost” she says. By improving the efficiency of these systems, Verifind aims to create a more intuitive and pleasant experience for users.
Inspiration Behind Verifind
The development of Verifind was driven by the need for a standardised approach to validating wayfinding effectiveness within the signage industry. ” We noticed that countless projects suffer from errors in wayfinding design that hinder effective navigation, leading to confusion and inefficiency,” Martha points out. The team at Verifind wanted to address this gap by establishing industry standards that hold wayfinding design accountable (themselves included) to promote efficient wayfinding universally. They aim to ensure that every wayfinding system is thoroughly tested and validated to meet high usability standards.
Key Features of Verifind
Verifind is unique in its use of eye-tracking technology to observe user interactions with signage elements and their surrounding environment. “This technology provides invaluable previously unattainable insights,” says Martha. By understanding where users look, how long they focus on specific elements, and their overall navigation patterns, Verifind can offer evidence-based recommendations for signage design and placement. This data-driven approach optimises the wayfinding experience in a practical and user-friendly way.
The Future of Verifind
Looking ahead, Martha envisions Verifind being integrated into the design phase of building projects. “By incorporating our eye-tracking analysis early on, we can ensure that wayfinding systems are effective from the outset,” she explains. This proactive approach will save time and resources while providing users with a seamless navigational experience from the grand opening of a facility. Additionally, the Verifind team at Modulex will continue refining their technology and methodologies to stay at the forefront of innovation in the wayfinding industry.
