Evaluation of Usability of Maps of Different Scales Presented in an In-Car Route Guidance and Navigation System (original) (raw)
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Preference for Map Scale of In-Car Route Guidance and Navigation System
Boletim de Ciências Geodésicas, 2016
Usability issues of maps presented in-car Route Guidance and Navigation System (RGNS) may result in serious impacts on traffic safety. To obtain effective RGNS, evaluation of 'user satisfaction' with the system has played a prominent role, since designers can quantify drivers' acceptance about presented information. An important variable related to design of RGNS interfaces refers to select appropriate scale for maps, since it interferes on legibility of maps. Map with good legibility may support drivers comprehend information easily and take decisions during driving task quickly. This paper evaluates drivers' preference for scales used in maps of RGNS. A total of 52 subjects participated of an experiment performed in a parked car. Maps were designed at four different scales 1:1,000, 1:3,000, 1:6,000 and 1:10,000 for a route composed of 13 junctions. Map design was based on cartographic communication principles, such as perceptive grouping and figure-ground segregati...
The Effect of Vehicle Navigation Systems on the Formation of Cognitive Maps
Traffic and Transport Psychology, 2005
People's mental representations of large-scale environments (cognitive maps) have been a popular area of study for psychologists and geographers. Traditionally, people develop cognitive maps either directly (through locomotion) and/or indirectly (through paper maps, sketches, etc.) Vehicle navigation systems provide a new source and format of information for drivers, yet there has been little attempt to study their implications for the cognitive mapping process. This paper reports on a study conducted within a fixedbased driving simulator in which twelve participants drove and navigated along a series of routes within a virtual town using either their preferred, traditional method (based on viewing a paper map with highlighted routes), or simple, turn-by-turn voice guidance (representing the primary interface mechanism for current vehicle navigation systems). On completion of the driving and navigating tasks, cognitive map development was assessed using image recognition/sorting and map sketching techniques. The results indicate that those who used guidance had a worse memory of the area than those who used a traditional method (e.g. handwritten notes, memorisation, paper map). Specifically, those receiving guidance remembered fewer scenes, were less accurate in their ordering of images seen along routes and drew simpler maps which included a smaller number of landmarks. The paper discusses the implications of these findings with respect to the design and evaluation of user-interfaces for vehicle navigation systems. In particular, it is argued that novel user-interfaces need to be developed which reduce navigational uncertainty within wholly unfamiliar areas (the current emphasis), and enable drivers progressively to learn an area (the longer-term perspective).
Perceptions of electronic navigation displays
Behaviour & Information Technology, 2012
This study evaluated aesthetics and usability of in-vehicle electronic navigation maps. Experiment 1 examined map displays that varied in the amount of information presented, abstraction level, graphic/colour style and the existence of landmarks in both urban and rural environments using objective and subjective measures. Twenty participants performed navigation/localisation tasks using various map configurations while driving a driving simulator and completed usability and aesthetic questionnaires. The minimal detail map produced better performances and higher usability and aesthetic ratings when using maps with no landmarks. Adding information in the form of landmarks was found advantageous compared to additional textual information. Abstractions were most advantageous when combined with minimal amount of detail. Moderate abstractions were sufficient for obtaining the desired benefits when more details were present. The graphic/colour style affected subjective perceptions. Overall, high correlations were found for the perceived aesthetics and usability scales, however, low correlations were found between actual usability (i.e. performance) and perceived usability pointing to the importance of using both objective and subjective usability measures. Experiment 2 examined how maps varying in their aesthetic level (aesthetic versus non-aesthetic), different colour arrangements, and 2D versus 3D landmarks affect subjective and objective measures. Participants distinguished between usability and aesthetic perceptions and usability perceptions were less affected by aesthetics when the aesthetic level of the maps was low. Colour arrangement did not affect the measures examined. Both 2D and 3D landmarks were found to be aesthetic and usable. We conclude this article with guidelines for designing in-vehicle navigation map displays.
Attentional demand requirements of an automobile moving-map navigation system
Transportation Research Part a General, 1989
The objective of this research was to assess the driver visual attentional demand requirements of an operational in-car navigation system. Thirty-two driver subjects ranging in age from 18 to 73 drove a specially instrumented vehicle on various types of public roadways with varying traffic conditions. Drivers performed both specific navigation system tasks and conventional tasks using dashboard instrumentation. Comparisons were then made between the two types of tasks. Results show that the demand of most of the navigation tasks was comparable to that of one or more conventional tasks. Modifying the remaining navigation tasks to make information more readily available would reduce their demand .
Commercially available in-vehicle routing and navigational systems (IRANS) present a generic form of route guidance information to all users. However, a growing body of literature suggests that drivers differ in their navigational strategies and abilities. The current investigation was designed to examine the impact of IRANS display modality on drivers' ability to navigate through and form cognitive maps of unfamiliar areas as a function of drivers' self-reported navigational strategy and ability. Drivers were required to navigate through unfamiliar areas along specified routes in a high-fidelity driving simulator using an ego-centered auditory route guidance system (ARGS), a geo-centered visual-map guidance system (VMGS) or both the ARGS and the VMGS. Drivers in general reported lower subjective ratings of workload when using the ARGS either by itself or in combination with the VMGS. However, drivers reporting a high degree of awareness of cardinal orientation and a tende...
Aesthetics and usability of in-vehicle navigation displays
International Journal of Human-computer Studies / International Journal of Man-machine Studies, 2011
This research evaluates the aesthetics and usability of various in-vehicle electronic navigation map configurations. Study 1 adapted the aesthetics scale to accommodate evaluations of map displays. Study 2 examined map displays that vary in the amount of data presented, their abstraction level and color schema, using objective and subjective usability measures. Maps with minimal detail produced best performances and highest evaluations. Abstractions were found to be advantageous when combined with reduced amount of detail and specific color schemas. Moderate abstractions were sufficient for obtaining the desired benefits. The color schema mainly affected the objective measures, pointing to the importance of good contrast between the cursor and the map colors. Study 3 further examined map schemas. Color schemas again had no effect on the perceptions of aesthetics and usability. Overall, similar results and high correlations were found for the perceived aesthetics and usability scales, indicating the connection between perceived aesthetics and usability. Lower correlations were found between the actual usability (performance) and the aesthetics scale. Finally, users' usability evaluations were not always in line with their actual performance, pointing to the importance of using objective usability measures.
Effects on Productivity and Safety of Map and Augmented Reality Navigation Paradigms
IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, 2011
Navigation systems providing route-guidance and traffic information are one of the most widely used driver-support systems these days. Most navigation systems are based on the map paradigm which plots the driving route in an abstracted version of a two-dimensional electronic map. Recently, a new navigation paradigm was introduced that is based on the augmented reality (AR) paradigm which displays the driving route by superimposing virtual objects on the real scene. These two paradigms have their own innate characteristics from the point of human cognition, and so complement each other rather than compete with each other. Regardless of the paradigm, the role of any navigation system is to support the driver in achieving his driving goals. The objective of this work is to investigate how these map and AR navigation paradigms impact the achievement of the driving goals: productivity and safety. We performed comparative experiments using a driving simulator and computers with 38 subjects. For the effects on productivity, driver's performance on three levels (control level, tactical level, and strategic level) of driving tasks was measured for each map and AR navigation condition. For the effects on safety, driver's situation awareness of safety-related events on the road was measured. To find how these navigation paradigms impose visual cognitive workload on driver, we tracked driver's eye movements. As a special factor of driving performance, route decision making at the complex decision points such as junction, overpass, and underpass was investigated additionally. Participant's subjective workload was assessed using the Driving Activity Load Index (DALI). Results indicated that there was little difference between the two navigation paradigms on driving performance. AR navigation attracted driver's visual attention more frequently than map navigation and then reduces awareness of and proper action for the safety-related events. AR navigation was faster and better to support route decision making at the complex decision points. According to the subjective workload assessment, AR navigation was visually and temporally more demanding.
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2010
An on-road driving experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of e-map format and subwindows on driving performance and glance behavior of navigation system users. Twenty-eight participants navigated an urban route using the navigation display with 2D or 3D e-maps and either with or without sub-windows. Driver navigation errors and visual glance data were gathered during the trials. The analytical results demonstrate no significant difference in driving performance between the 2D and 3D e-map conditions. However, use of a 3D e-map was associated with significantly more frequent glance behavior than the 2D display. Furthermore, subjects using the navigation display with a sub-window made significantly fewer navigation errors (50% less) compared to those using the navigation display without a sub-window. This investigation suggests that performance improves when using sub-windows. Finally, this study discusses wider implications in the design and use of navigation displays. Relevance to industry: We found that the e-map format is related to driver glance behavior when using an in-vehicle navigation display. The sub-window also provides substantial influence on driving performance and glance behavior. The results of our study will assist in designing in-vehicle navigation systems and improving the performance of navigation e-maps for path-finding tasks.
Effects of In-Car Navigation Systems on User Perception of the Spatial Environment
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2013
This study aims to understand how navigation devices affect driver's awareness of the environment. The hypothesis of this study suggests that use of in-car navigation systems diverts driver's attention from outside of the car to the inside where external objects are less likely to be recognized. These objects may include landmarks, buildings, traffic signs and even pedestrians. Further, internet connected navigation devices cause the amount of information presented to user become very large in size during driving. This study conducted a multiuser field experiment in order to understand basic effects of in-car navigation systems on user perception of external world outside of the car. It was also hypothesized that technology aptitude of driver has significant contribution on how these devices affect user's perception. Results suggested that in-car navigation systems has adverse effects on external world perception. Technology aptitude of the driver played significant role on navigation device interaction as well.