| Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 18M.3.HL.TZ0.1 |
| Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 1 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The authorities in Qinhuangdao, China are prototyping the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB). The TEB runs on rails and has 2.1 m of clearance over the road below. This allows the cars to share the road as shown in Figure 1.
The TEB can use the existing roads and transport 1400 passengers at up to 60km/h.
List two ways in which the Chinese user population influenced the TEB design concept.
Outline the importance of a multidisciplinary design team for the TEB.
Outline the role an ethnographer may play in the design team for the TEB.
Explain one benefit of enhanced usability of the TEB and how it would contribute to its success.
Markscheme
there is a large population in some Chinese cities / China has a large population / China is overpopulated ✓
Chinese roads and highways are congested / Increasing number of car owners has led to increased congestion / main roads have large numbers of people travelling in the same direction at the same time ✓
many people commute and need a more efficient public transportation system / willingness (culture) of using public transportation already exists ✓
Award [1] for each way that the Chinese population influenced the TEB design concept listed.
[2 max]
the TEB is a complex / innovative system ✓
that requires a variety of skills, knowledge and perspectives / specialists from many fields / eg engineers, town planners, designers, IT system specialists etc ✓
multidisciplinary design teams allow for more creative problem solving as everyone has different skills and experiences ✓
and ideas can leapfrog from one person’s thoughts to awaken a different idea in another person’s thinking / sharing and building on each other’s ideas ✓
a multidisciplinary design team provides a deeper understanding of complex problems ✓
associated with user needs based on multiple perspectives / to ensure all possible aspects associated with the designing of the product from engineering to aesthetics are considered ✓
Award [1] for identifying the importance of using a multi-disciplinary design team for the TEB and [1] for a brief explanation
ethnographers study societies / study cultures / immerse themselves within the Chinese culture ✓
to develop a deep understanding/empathy of the needs/behaviour of the people ✓
an ethnographer would gather data from the point of view of the Chinese population/the subject of the study ✓
to forecast if the TEB would be an accepted solution by the people in China ✓
Award [1] for identifying the role an ethnographer may play in the design team for the TEB and [1] for a brief explanation
Benefit:
enhanced usability increases product acceptance / creates a positive user experience ✓
by reducing commute time / by increasing passenger comfort / by providing easy accessibility for a wide range of users / ease of movement within the TEB once on board ✓
How:
more people will use / purchase it ✓
making the system economical to run / use ✓
Benefit:
enhanced usability of the user interface for the driver/operator ✓
will reduce driver error ✓
How:
this will increase safety ✓
build user confidence / increases the use of the TEB system ✓
Benefit:
enhanced usability of the user interface for the driver/operator ✓
will reduce training costs/accidents ✓
How:
this will lower the cost of operating the TEB ✓
reflecting positively on ticket prices ✓
Award [1] for each of two distinct points in an explanation of the benefits of enhanced usability of the TEB
[2 max]
Award [1] for each of two distinct points in an explanation of how enhanced usability would contribute to its success.
[2 max]
Note to markers:
Do not award marks from different clusters.
