Case Study on the User Interface of GPS Plotters to Enhance Their Usability

In 2019, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prescribed guidelines to standardize the user interface (UI) of navigation equipment such as radio detection and ranging (RADAR) and the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), which mandate the unification of various terminologies and icons to improve usability. However, comprehensive studies on the operability and standardization of global positioning system (GPS) plotters, which are auxiliary equipment installed across various domestic and commercial vessels for navigational purposes, have not been conducted. Therefore, we performed a case study to identify the user requirements for standardizing the UI of GPS plotters in South Korea. Additionally, we conducted a survey to ascertain the frequency of use of the navigational functions in a GPS plotter, in which, several deck officers and captains participated. The frequently used navigational functions that were subsequently identified confirmed the need for standardization of the UI. Furthermore, the users requested the standardization of the menus of these functions using Korean terminologies. Hence, we attempted to derive standardized items that can be applied to both the functions of the GPS plotters and the navigation information obtained, which can contribute to the improvement of the UI across the different types of plotters.