A trip into the countryside: an experience design for explorative car cruises

In-car navigation systems are designed with effectiveness and efficiency (e.g., guiding accuracy) in mind. However, finding a way and discovering new places could also be framed as an adventurous, stimulating experience for the driver and passengers. Inspired by Gaver and Martin's (2000) notion of "ambiguity and detour" and Hassenzahl's (2010) Experience Design, we built ExplorationRide, an in-car navigation system to foster exploration. An empirical in situ exploration demonstrated the system's ability to create an exploration experience, marked by a relaxed at-mosphere, a loss of sense of time, excitement about new places and an intensified relationship with the landscape.