MERIAN, a leading player in the German travel industry, wanted to move its vast store of travel information more effectively into the 21st century. They conceptualized a new device that would leverage GPS technology to offer in-context tourist information and tailored recommendations. frog was commissioned to create the hardware and user interface of this new device, creating a user experience that would shift the traveler’s focus from the guidebook to the world around him.
The existing navigation device market universally emphasized destination, offering users an efficient, obstacle-free journey from A to B. But MERIAN wanted to create a true travel assistant, a device that would improve the journey not only by offering users relevant information about major sights, but also by leading them to places they might not have found on their own.
By offering up information about a city as the user moves through it, the MERIAN Scout NAVIGATOR frees travelers from the restraints of a fixed to-do list. Thanks to GPS, en route information alerts users to the sights around them, calling upon more than 30,000 locational hints and 35 hours of audio content for Germany alone. A wealth of images, media, and interactive maps – the kind of rich content one associates with high-end travel guides – provides additional texture to the experience. The device lets users generate their own adventures, improvising a path through the city, secure in the knowledge that they can always find their way.
In addition to traditional tourist information, the MERIAN scout NAVIGATOR informs users when they happen to be two blocks from an interesting, little-known landmark or a great Parisian café – the incidental moments and memories of which great trips are built.
In every element of the design, frog has emphasized the seamless integration of external form and internal content. An edgeless, touch-activated screen provides an elegant interface for searching and illustrating information, with screen layout and sensitivity carefully calibrated for accuracy of command. Simple, legible icons lead the way, making it easy to find nearby sights, restaurants, or entertainment.
Because the device UI can be updated online as new tourist information becomes available, the Scout NAVIGATOR will never lose its utility. The sleek, recognizable device – branded by a blue band of light that frames the screen during operation – is the guidebook of the 21st century.
Like nothing else, the MERIAN Scout NAVIGATOR offers an information-rich experience that conforms to the contours of travel, emphasizing the spontaneity and joy of wandering abroad. From its launch in November 2007 until today, the travel assistant remains unrivaled on the market.
