Wireless Helm Navigation for a Small Passenger Ferry

Abstract

This thesis investigates the design and development of a wireless mobile phone application intended to facilitate the safe and efficient navigation of a small passenger ferry. Conducted in collaboration with Cstrider AB, the project applies participatory design and Research Through Design (RTD) methodologies to address cognitive and usability challenges faced by ferry operators. Through interviews, thematic analysis, and iterative prototyping in Figma and Flutter, the study identifies key user requirements, such as simplicity, intuitive controls, traditional visual metaphors, and minimal attentional demand. The final high-fidelity prototype emphasizes skeuomorphic design and streamlined functionality support situational awareness and reduce cognitive workload. While evaluations suggest that the application is generally perceived as intuitive, concerns persist around trust and reliability in safety-critical contexts. This work contributes both a validated interaction prototype and actionable insights into the design of mobile interfaces for maritime control systems, with implications for future development in wireless and remote vessel operation.