Functional Specification

for

The Adirondack Adventure Guide

2 May, 2000

Copyright © 2000 Sabina Hodgson, Ann Kardos, Steve Mellace

The adirondack adventure guide

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY *

PROJECT OVERVIEW *

DESIGN OVERVIEW *

NAVIGATION *

NODE MAP *

NODE 1. BUMPER *

Annbmp *

NODE 2. TITLE/INTRODUCTION SCREEN *

NODE 3. MAIN MENU *

BUTTON *

FUNCTION *

FILE TYPE *

NODE 4. QUIT *

Yes *

NODE 5. SEARCH *

NODE 6. THE HIKING TRAIL LIST *

NODE 7. THE CENTRAL REGION *

NODE 8. CENTRAL REGION WITH TRAILS *

NODE 9. PINE HILL WITH TRAIL MAP *

NODE 10. PREPARATION *

Search *

NODE 11. CONTACT INFORMATION *

FUNCTION *

NODE 12. INTERACTIVE MAP GAME *

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Concept

The Adirondack Adventure Guide is a multi-media information guide to hiking and mixed trail use in this region of Central New York.

This CD Rom is for anyone interested in experiencing the great outdoors. It is designed to help visualize your own adventure, first on screen before committing to the physical reality of the trail. Places are easily located on the map. You can leisurely stroll through the woods, climb trailless peaks, identify historical sites, flora, fauna, and have breathtaking views. If it's an energetic challenge you're after, just map out a vigorous overnight hike, and camp as rustically or luxuriously as desired. An accommodation guide is at your fingertips. Perhaps your interests extend to biking, skiing, snowmobiling, fishing or horseriding, local maps and conditions are available at the click of a mouse. There's a site for practical first aid information, relevant to your activity and area. But, before heading out, check the interactive web site for a current weather update.

You have the choice on the search screen to select the region, activity, level of difficulty, length of time and season you would like to experience. Once you've got the information, just print up the map. To learn more about your area, select to see and hear information about flora, fauna, history, accommodation or preparation. Find out about the local animals and plants, visit historical and archaeolgical sites, decide where you're going to stay, and how to be best prepared for the adventure. Take part in the interactive map game, have fun and sharpen your map reading skills at the same time. Once you've decided what equipment, clothing and supplies you need from the shopping list site, an LL Bean shopping link is at your fingertips. Also, a web site to obtain contact information is available for any further information you may need.

Being prepared can make all the difference between an exiting adventure or a miseable misadventure. Seasonal information about the presence of black flies can be invaluable. Likewise, in winter, success can be a matter of knowing when snowshoes or crampons are needed. For any trip to the Adirondacks this CD Rom is invaluable; whether just a quick update on information, or time spent exploring and experiencing the wonderful sights and sounds of this beautiful wilderness.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Introduction

The Adirondack Adventure Guide is an exciting informational CD-ROM that takes you right to the heart of the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. With this CD-ROM, you can plan your vacation any way you choose: browse by region or by activity, or use the interactive search engine. You can even learn the history of the regions and the various types of plants and animals that live there before you make your trip.

By looking at the menu map of the Adirondack Park, you'll be confronted with six different regions to choose from. All six of these regions offer a host of exciting outdoor activities. If you're not sure which part of the park you would like to vacation in, that's all right, too. You can select from the listed activities located in the toolbar on the right. This toolbar offers you the activities and lets you know where they are in all six regions. From there, you can decide which region is just right for your vacation. If you are already familiar with the park and know what you're looking for, choose the search option. This option allows you to customize the information you receive. By answering a few questions, The Adirondack Adventure Guide will find the perfect information for your vacation.

If you are browsing by region, select the one you want from the map. Now, you are dealing with information for that region only. You can check out hiking and biking trails, look at the best places to canoe or horseback ride, learn where to snowshoe and snowmobile, or even find out where to fish. When you find the trail or activity you're interested in, print out the map and other helpful information! If that's not what you first want to explore, you can learn about the exciting history of the region, all the way back to prehistoric times. Also, search for and identify the flora and fauna so you'll know just what you're encountering while you're visiting the park.

Once you've discovered what you wish about the park and have chosen your activity, you can look at the information under Prepare or Accommodations. In Prepare, you'll find a helpful list of equipment needed for all types of trips. Choose the appropriate items for your vacation and drop them into your "shopping list." If you don't have what you need, don't worry. You can go straight to L.L. Bean's online catalog! But you are still not ready to go on your trip. Part of preparing is learning the map, so make sure you look at the interactive map reading challenge. Here, you need to match the views with their corresponding points on the contour map. It's of great help even to the seasoned outdoors-person. Then in Accommodations, browse through several options. You can find information no matter where you're looking to stay. With The Adirondack Adventure Guide, you can decide whether you would like to camp or stay at one of the many hotels and resorts in the area.

Once you have your vacation planned out, don't forget to check First Aid and the weather. First Aid offers many procedures for the problems that may occur while vacationing in the wilderness. Be sure to take a look at all of the videos and instructions to ensure that your trip will be a fun and safe one.

After that, find out what the weather is like right now in the Adirondacks. You'll be linked to wunderground.com, where the weather is updated as conditions change. There, you can find the current temperature and even look at radar and satellite maps. These will be quite helpful when you are trying to plan when you want to hike up that mountain!

The Adirondack Adventure Guide will provide the following information:

Easy-to-read maps and readily identifiable graphics

A better understanding of the park in general and each of its diverse regions

A detailed look at the flora and fauna that live within the park

An overview of the exciting regional history

The ability to browse through places to stay

Guides to make sure any vacationer is prepared for a trip, no matter what happens

DESIGN OVERVIEW

Main Menu

The map of the Adirondack Park is the main interface screen. As you roll over a region, the name appears. Move the mouse over the entire map and see if a particular region is of interest. If you already know where you're going, you can just get started. After selecting the particular region you are interested in, you will be taken to that region. Your information now has been narrowed down for you. Freely browse around and see what you like!

If you know exactly what type of information you are looking for, you may customize your search to quickly find results. Click on the Search option button to go to the customization screen. Choose what you like from a series of questions. Select your answer from the list, and The Adirondack Adventure Guide will find exactly what you are looking for. The information you are able to customize includes:

Region

Activity

Level of difficulty

Length of stay

Season

Toolbar

If you are a user unfamiliar with what each region offers, there is a toolbar located on the right side of the screen. This toolbar lists the activities you can search, shown with the familiar standard national park signs. As you move your mouse over each activity, the name of the activity appears next to the sign. Once you've decided on the activity you'd like to try out, click your mouse on that sign. You will hear a sound that corresponds with the activity you just chose. You will be taken to a screen that lists all of the places in the entire park where you can enjoy that activity. All the trails and sites are categorized by region. To further explore the trail or site, click on its name in the list. You will be taken directly to its site within The Adirondack Adventure Guide.

Activities

Hiking

Biking

Canoeing

Fishing

Horseback riding

Cross country skiing/snowshoeing

snowmobiling

The toolbar offers other interesting features for you to look at, also. You may choose to look through the First Aid information, or be directly linked to wunderground.com on the Internet to find out what the weather is currently like in the Adirondacks. You will also find forward and backward buttons so that you may revisit screens that you have already seen. When you are done searching through The Adirondack Adventure Guide, you will also find the "Quit" button here. Make sure you save the information you've found so that you can use it later!

Regions

Each region presents you with a map. The map is a larger version of the region seen on the main menu screen, only with more of detail so that you may become familiar with the terrain of each individual region. The toolbar from the main menu remains on the right side of the screen, but now it will link you to that activity's information within that region. Once an activity is selected, its trails or sites are shown on the regional map in the center of the screen. When you select a trail or site, its full information is displayed. For example, this information lets you know the length of the trail you chose, along with its level of difficulty. You can even print up a map! Also from the activity screen, you can access the Prepare screen for your particular activity.

Each region also has its own toolbar with customized information for that particular region. This toolbar allows you to discover the intricacies of the park and what each region holds. The regional toolbar allows you to find information including:

Flora

Fauna

History

How to prepare for your trip

Accommodations

First Aid

To ensure an exciting adventure that is also safe, make certain that you look through the first aid information. From anywhere in The Adirondack Adventure Guide, choose the First Aid button on the main toolbar. The button takes you to a new menu screen dealing only with first aid. Here, you may search for individual injuries, either on The Adirondack Adventure Guide's own database, or check out the web links. The First Aid menu provides you will all the information you need to maintain a healthy trip. You can watch a video that details how to do CPR. There is also textual and photographical information detailing step-by-step instructions on what to do in emergency situations. Make sure you print up the emergency contact information and numbers!

Print Options

Certain areas of The Adirondack Adventure Guide allow you to print up the information you discover. These are things you might be interested in taking with you on your vacation. The print option is available in each regional activity section. This is where you can print up simple maps to take with you while you hike, canoe, etc. You may also print up the "shopping list" that you create in Preparations. As you get the items that are needed for your trip, don't forget to check them off!

From the sections on flora and fauna, you can print the photographs you like. While you are hiking, you will be able to readily identify the nature that is around you. These printouts also contain information about the plant or animal, including whether or not it is endangered. Also you may be interested in knowing whether certain plants are edible.

While in First Aid, it may be helpful to print certain first aid techniques. You will be prepared should anyone you are with suffer from even basic dehydration. You will also want the emergency contact information with you.

Interactive Exercises

The Adirondack Adventure Guide also offers several interactive exercises to help you plan your vacation. Other sites allow you to search through menus of information or link to sites on the Internet to help you find more detailed information. These sites include:

Flora

Fauna

Accommodations

History

Prepare

First Aid

Weather

Product Features

Six diverse regions to choose from

Seven different activities

User-friendly navigation through sites

Easy-to-read map interface

Map reading challenge

Accommodation information and phone numbers

Flora and fauna identification activities

History timelines for each region

Printable trail maps

First aid information

Web-links for further information and books

Web-links to L.L. Bean and the weather

NAVIGATION

The structure of The Adirondack Adventure Guide makes it incredibly user-friendly. No matter what type of user one is, or how familiar one is with the Adirondacks, the information is arranged so that it is easily found.

1. search by region: By clicking on a region on the map, get into the region's page. From there, search the sites of activity in that region.

2. search by activity: By clicking on the icon on the toolbar, find a list of that activity wherever it is offered anywhere in the park. From there, click on the trail of interest, and be taken to its page within its region.

3. customize search: For more experienced users who know exactly what they want out of their Adirondack experience.

All information can by found by using any of these methods.

Global Conventions

Another way in which The Adirondack Adventure Guide is perfect for any user is the information that is always accessible, no matter where one goes within the product. The buttons are always present on the screen so that the user can always find exactly the information he or she is looking for.

NODE MAP

NODE 1. BUMPER

Node Summary

This is a non-interactive screen. It introduces the producers of the program who in turn pull on the logo. The background is a detailed contour map over which Steve rides a bicycle, pulling the words `Get Lost'. He is followed by Sabina, skiing across the screen and trailing `In The' after whom Ann paddles across with the word `Woods'. This logo remains on the screen as the comic characters move off. The word `Production' moves up the screen and remains just below the `Woods'.

Sound and Music

The music moves along with the screen animation. It is cartoon type music, no real melody, just an accompaniment to the images.

Assets

NODE 2. TITLE/INTRODUCTION SCREEN

Node Summary

This is the title and introduction to The Adirondack Adventure Guide. The screen shows a search light looking across the United States. It stops in New York on the logo for The Adirondack Adventure Guide. The map zooms in and then the user is shown a video with excerpts of what the product is about. The user sees a person canoeing, fishing, skiing, and some hikers. These are all activities that can be explored in the product. In the background, the user hears the song "Adirondack Blues."

Screen Description

The screen starts with a map of the United States in a shadow. A searchlight searches over the country. It is looking for something. It passes, and then comes back to, the logo of The Adirondack Adventure Guide. The map zooms in, and the user sees a clearer and clearer view of what the logo looks like. When the logo disappears, a video takes its place on the screen.

Music and Sound Effects

During the searchlight and the video, the song "Adirondack Blues" plays in the background. It is a country tune by a local singer about driving to the Adirondacks. The song plays for the duration of the Introduction, and then fades out with the Introduction at the end.

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 3. MAIN MENU

Node Summary

This is the main menu screen. From here you can navigate through the rest of the CD. You can explore each region by clicking on the map, where the region's name appears, or you can explore each activity available in all the regions by clicking on the appropriate activity buttons on the right of the screen. Sites as yet uncompleted go to the construction screen.

Buttons

Music and Sound Effects

Narration

Welcome to the Adirondack Adventure Guide. To search by region, roll your mouse over the map to find the one you're looking for. To search by activity, use the toolbar on the right side of your screen. If you are and experienced user, click the search buton to customize your results.

Music

Background instrumental soundtrack from Adirnondack Blues, by Peggy Ayres. This is looped and is always in the background.

Sound Effects

Walking

Fishing cast

Water flowing

Horse hooves

Snowmobile engine

Skiing whish

Bike chain clonking

Click

Assets

Asset list

NODE 4. QUIT

Node Summary

This is designed for the user to be able to leave the program. He/she is given a choice of completely leaving the program, or returning to the main menu. A question appears above a picture of an exhausted hiker `Are you sure you want to quit?' The user can either click the button `Yes' or `No'

Sound

Only the`click' sound of the buttons being activated accompanies this screen.

Buttons

Assets

NODE 5. SEARCH

Node Summary

This node allows the user that has already explored The Adirondack Adventure Guide to quickly find the information he or she needs. By answering five questions, the user can customize the search.

Screen Description

This screen is predominantly text. There are five statements in the center of the screen. By scrolling through a list with the up arrow, the user chooses his or her answers to customize the search. At the bottom of the screen is a Find Results button. When the user has filled in the statements he or she is interested in, he or she can click on the Find Results button and be taken to a trail map.

Interactivity

The user has the option of customizing their search by selecting their choice from a series of lists. The user completes the five sentences based on what he or she wants out of their Adirondack vacation. This allows the user to branch directly to the information he or she is looking for without searching through the entire product.

Buttons

The same buttons are located here in the toolbar along the right side of the screen. This screen also has its own button.

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Other Buttons

Text

Each of the five statements is written in text.

Music and Sound Effects

There is bluesy instrumental background music done by the same artist who did "Adirondack Blues." The song is looped and always in the background.

Also, each activity in the toolbar is accompanied by its sound. When the user clicks on an activity, the sound sounds and overlaps just slightly to the next screen. The sound of the activity accompanies the user to its respective screen. Any other buttons have a click that is sounded when they are selected.

Assets

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 6. THE HIKING TRAIL LIST

Node Summary

The user can gain access to the exact trail he or she wants. When the user clicks on the Hike button, located on the toolbar to the right of the screen, a list of hiking trails in the Central Region appears. The listing includes which region the trail is located in, how difficult the trail is, and how long it is. The user can click on the trail that interests him or her and will be taken directly to that trail's regional page. There, the user will find a trail map that he or she can take along.

This method of searching is particularly useful for the vacationer who may not know where to go, but knows the activity that he or she wants to do. The user can specifically access hiking trails only, and narrow down the locations according to what he or she finds.

Screen Description

The screen design is very simple. It is designed so that the user will quickly find the trail of interest and go directly to its the regional page. The screen is designed as a list, and each trail is its own button. The screen is predominantly text. The text is divided into specific information about each trail, such as region, difficulty, and length.

Buttons

The buttons on this site are the global conventions and the activity buttons located on every page in The Adirondack Adventure Guide. Also, each trail name is its own button, linking directly to its map within its regional page.

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Trail Buttons

Other Buttons

Text

Each of the ten trails is written in text.

Music and Sound Effects

There is bluesy instrumental background music done by Peggy Ayres, the same artist who did "Adirondack Blues." The song is looped and always in the background.

Also, each activity in the toolbar is accompanied by its sound. When the user clicks on an activity, the sound sounds and overlaps just slightly to the next screen. The sound of the activity accompanies the user to its respective screen. Any other buttons have a click that is sounded when they are selected.

Assets

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 7. THE CENTRAL REGION

Node Summary

This node deals only with information that pertains to the Central Region. Here, a user can access the information he or she is looking for similarly to the main interface. However, if the user clicks on the Hike button, he or she will be taken to the Central Region trail page instead of the Hiking Trail list.

This node also offers specific information about where the user is going. Along the bottom of the screen, a regional toolbar is available. This toolbar contains buttons to access information about flora, fauna, history, accommodations, and how to prepare for an Adirondack vacation.

Screen Description

This screen looks similar to the main interface. In the center is a map of the Central Region. Along the right side is the same toolbar as on the main interface. However, along the bottom is another, separate toolbar that accesses information specific to that region. Along the side of the screen is a cut log letting the user know that he or she is in the Central Region information section.

Buttons

Many of the buttons on the Central Region page are also the same as those located on the main interface. There are activity buttons, the global conventions, but also the new buttons specific to the regional pages.

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Region Buttons

Music and Sound Effects

There is bluesy instrumental background music done by the same artist who did "Adirondack Blues." The song is looped and always in the background.

Also, each activity in the toolbar is accompanied by its sound. When the user clicks on an activity, the sound sounds and overlaps just slightly to the next screen. The sound of the activity accompanies the user to its respective screen.

Assets

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 8. CENTRAL REGION WITH TRAILS

Node Summary

This node is essentially the Central Region with a different map in the center and a direct link to a hiking trail. The look is the same as the Central Region. However, the map functions as a button. When the user rolls over the map, a pink foot appears wherever there is a trail map available. This gives the user a closer look at the region he or she may want to vacation in.

This node also offers specific information about where the user is going. Along the bottom of the screen, a regional toolbar is available. This toolbar contains buttons to access information about flora, fauna, history, accommodations, and how to prepare for an Adirondack vacation.

Screen Description

The screen looks like the Central Region. The map in the center is the same map, only now it has red-dotted trails all over its surface. This lets the user learn where trails are located in the whole region. Along the right side of the screen is the familiar toolbar, and along the bottom is the regional toolbar with the same options as on the Central screen. This information is customized for the Central Region.

As the user rolls over the map in the center, a pink foot appears. This shows the user that there is more information available for this spot on the map.

Interactivity

The user can click on the map wherever the pink foot appears. This lets the user know that there is a hiking trail map available for that area of the region. When the user clicks on the pink foot, he or she is linked to the Pine Hill trail map to get a closer view of the area and the terrain. The user can also see how long the trail is and if there are campsites along the trail.

Buttons

The buttons on the Central Region Trail page are the same as those located on the Central

Region page. There are activity buttons, the global convention, and the regional buttons.

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Region Buttons

Music and Sound Effects

There is bluesy instrumental background music done by the same artist who did "Adirondack Blues." The song is looped and always in the background.

Also, each activity in the toolbar is accompanied by its sound. When the user clicks on an activity, the sound sounds and overlaps just slightly to the next screen. The sound of the activity accompanies the user to its respective screen. Any other buttons have a click that is sounded when they are selected.

Assets

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 9. PINE HILL WITH TRAIL MAP

Node Summary

The user is presented with a contour map with the Pine Hill hiking trail highlighted. This map is in an easy-to-print format and is small so that the user may take it on his or her trip for guidance.

Screen Description

This page is designed to be a printable page only. The user can see clearly the trail he or she has chosen and see important information about the trail. The map is a contour map so that the user may become familiar with the terrain of area the trail is in. Information on the map includes campsites, also.

Along the bottom of the screen, there is a print button and a button that takes the user back to the main Central Region page.

Buttons

The buttons on this site are the global conventions located on every page in The Adirondack Adventure Guide. Also, there are the Print and Central buttons.

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Other Buttons

Music and Sound Effects

There is bluesy instrumental background music done by the same artist who did "Adirondack Blues." The song is looped and always in the background.

Also, each activity in the toolbar is accompanied by its sound. When the user clicks on an activity, the sound sounds and overlaps just slightly to the next screen. The sound of the activity accompanies the user to its respective screen. Any other buttons have a click that is sounded when they are selected.

Assets

Software Requirements

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

NODE 10. PREPARATION

Node Summary

The central graphic of this screen is a compass. Specifically, a scouts' compass, using the metaphore `Be Prepared!' The left side of the screen has the now familiar log of the main menu, but instead of `main menu' it has the word `prepare' engraved upon it. Directly below it is the return to main menu button – a representation of New York state (with a green parch for the Adirondacks). Above the compass an encouragement is extended to the user: `Get ready for your Adirondack vacation'. To the right are the activity and globals buttons, and below are four preparation buttons.

Buttons

Activity Buttons

Global Buttons

Music and sound

The buttons are activated by the mouse. As it rolls over the buttons they change to a steady state and appear highlighted. A `click' sound accompanies this move. When the mouse is clicked, the activity buttons move to the select state and are accompanied by an appropriate sound.

Assets

NODE 11. CONTACT INFORMATION

Node summary

This node is located on the Web (hhtp://web.syr.edu/~sdmellac/adirond1html) so it can be updated as needed. This allows us to provide the user with the most up-to-date contact information. This information can be used when planning a visit to the park. A link to the Adirondack Park website is also included.

Buttons

Assets Used

Text

Adirondack Museum –(518) 325-7311

Adirondack Mountain Club – (518) 668-4447

Adirondack Nature Conservancy – (518) 576-2082

Adirondack Regional Tourism Council – (518) 846-8016

Central Adirondack Assosiation – (518) 369-6983

DEC Central Office – (518) 457-2500

DEC Region 5 North Fishing Hotline – (518) 891-5413

DEC Region 5 South Fishing Hotline – (518) 623-3682

DEC Region 7 Fishing Hotline – (607) 753-1551

Essex Country Visitors Bureau – (518) 523-2999

For the Adirondack Park website, click here!

Special Software Requirement

Any web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer

NODE 12. INTERACTIVE MAP GAME

Node Summary

The purpose of this game is to acquaint the user with the contour map and how to use it. A pair of binoculars appears when the game is started. Their location is at random. There are three places on the map the binoculars can appear and each has four orientations: north, east, south and west. A caption at the botom of the screen tells the user to `choose the picture that matches the direction the binoculars are looking in'. Simultaneously three photographs are projected at the top of the screen, one of which is the correct view for the direction the binoculars are pointing. The user, by clicking the mouse on the correct photograph receives an encouraging verbal reward, but a discouraging one if he/she is wrong. The correct answer automatically reactivates the game until the user wishes to quit.

Buttons

Two buttons are at the bottom of the screen. Clicking the mouse over the `Play Game' starts the action and `Quit game' causes it to stop. Also the photographs are buttons, and by clicking on the correct one the user moves to the next location.

Sound

A variety of possitive and negative comments are linked with the photographs. Each direction of the binoculars is linked to three pictures and the sounds are attached to these. The correct answer is rewarded with a possitive comment or applause, while an incorrect answer is either ridiculed, buzzed out or just given a negative response.

Assets