User preferences on route instruction types for mobile indoor route guidance

Adaptive mobile wayfinding systems are being developed to ease wayfinding in the indoor environment. They present wayfinding information to the user, which is adapted to the context. Wayfinding information can be communicated by using different types of route instructions, such as text, photos, videos, symbols or a combination thereof. The need for a different type of route instruction may vary at decision points, for example because of its complexity. Furthermore, these needs may be different for different user characteristics (e.g., age, gender, level of education). To determine this need for information, an online survey has been executed where participants rated 10 different route instruction types at several decision points in a case study building. Results show that the types with additional text were preferred over those without text. The photo instructions, combined with text, generally received the highest ratings, especially from first-time visitors. 3D simulations were appreciated at complex decision points and by younger people. When text (with symbols) is considered as a route instruction type, it is best used for the start or end instruction

City Tells:

City Tells. Guidelines to an Emotional Wayfinding System were developed to provide wayfinding information to visitors walking through historic environments and to ensure that unknown urban places become more welcoming, easier to navigate and more enjoyable for both visitors and tourists

Mobile Location Based Services: Non-visual Feedback Using Haptics

Haptics is a feedback technology that takes advantage of the human sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to a haptic-enabled device such as a mobile phone. Historically, human-computer interaction has been visual, text and images on the screen. In this paper, we discuss our Haptic Interaction Model which describes the integration of haptic feedback into Mobile Location Based Services such as knowledge discovery, pedestrian navigation and notification systems. A knowledge discovery system called the Haptic GeoWand is a low interaction system that allows users to query geo-tagged data around them by using a point-and-scan technique with their mobile device. Haptic Pedestrian is a navigation system for walkers. Four prototypes have been developed classified according to the user‟s guidance requirements, the user type (based on spatial skills), and overall system complexity. Haptic Alert is a notification system that provides spatial information to the users of public transport. In all these systems, haptic feedback is used to convey information about location, orientation, density and distance by use of the vibration alarm with varying frequencies and patterns to help understand the physical environment. User trials have elicited positive response from the users. Haptics integrated into a multi-modal navigation system and other mobile location based services provides more usable, less distracting but more effective interaction than conventional systems

Mobile Location Based Services: Non-visual Feedback Using Haptics

Haptics is a feedback technology that takes advantage of the human sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to a haptic-enabled device such as a mobile phone. Historically, human-computer interaction has been visual, text and images on the screen. In this paper, we discuss our Haptic Interaction Model which describes the integration of haptic feedback into Mobile Location Based Services such as knowledge discovery, pedestrian navigation and notification systems. A knowledge discovery system called the Haptic GeoWand is a low interaction system that allows users to query geo-tagged data around them by using a point-and-scan technique with their mobile device. Haptic Pedestrian is a navigation system for walkers. Four prototypes have been developed classified according to the user‟s guidance requirements, the user type (based on spatial skills), and overall system complexity. Haptic Alert is a notification system that provides spatial information to the users of public transport. In all these systems, haptic feedback is used to convey information about location, orientation, density and distance by use of the vibration alarm with varying frequencies and patterns to help understand the physical environment. User trials have elicited positive response from the users. Haptics integrated into a multi-modal navigation system and other mobile location based services provides more usable, less distracting but more effective interaction than conventional systems

WAYFINDING AID FOR THE ELDERLY WITH MEMORY DISTURBANCES

A global increase in aging population, combined with a growing number of people with dementia, creates new challenges to develop guiding technology for people with memory disturbances in their daily activities. In this study we have tested the prototype of a wayfinding aid using predefined routes. The orientation advice was given through three modalities, visual, audio and tactile signals, two of which were used at a time. Nine subjects, aged 59–90 years (with a median age of 84 years) participated in the user study at a rehabilitation unit in Pyhäjärvi, Finland. Their severity of dementia ranged between mild and severe, and walking abilities ranged from “frail to hobby skier”. In addition, two elderly persons were recruited as control subjects. In most cases, the orientation with the wayfinding aid on predefined routes succeeded, with a few misinterpretations. The most common difficulties included: straying from the defined route, finding the right door, and the attractions of real-life context like other people. The severity of dementia didn’t seem to predict success in orientation with the wayfinding aid. Using the landmarks wasn’t as successful as using “left”, “right” and “go straight on” commands as the wayfinding advice

An Orientation Service for Dependent People Based on an Open Service Architecture

This article describes a service architecture for ambient assisted liv ing and in particular an orientation navigation service in open places for persons with memory problems such as those patients suffering from Alzheimer’s in its early stages. The service has the following characteristics: one-day system autonomy; self-adjusting interfaces for simple interaction with patients, based on behavioural patterns to predict routes and destinations and to detect lost situations; easy browsing through simple spoken commands and use of photo graphs for reorientation, and independence of GISs (Geographic Information Systems) to reduce costs and increase accessibility. Initial testing results of the destination prediction algorithm are very positive. This system is integrated in a global e-health/e-care home service architecture platform (OSGi) that enables remote management of services and devices and seamless integration with other home service domains.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TSI2006-13390-C02-0

Luonnon maamerkkien ja geospatiaalisten kuvien analyysi reitinkulun tukemiseksi

This dissertation applies the research and methods of spatial cognition in order to contribute to the development of wayfinding support in geospatial applications. The design and development of geospatial applications, such as interactive maps and mobile navigation applications, has been typically founded on the expertise of surveying, cartography and geoinformatics. This has often led to relatively complex expert tools that many users find difficult to use. The research of spatial cognition can provide elementary understanding about human thinking in the use situations of these applications and supplement the knowledge gained using the usability research. Perception of landmarks along routes in nature was studied in season and time-of-day studies with participants who walked nature trails in summer, winter, day and night while thinking aloud about the surroundings. The recall of the route was measured afterwards using sketch-map drawing and photo recognition tasks. The think-aloud protocols were analysed using classification of propositions and natural language processing. The importance of landmarks for the human route perception in nature was confirmed. "Structures", "Passages" and "Waters" were the most perceived landmark groups. Season and time-of-day significantly affected landmark perception and, based on the results, the adaptivity of geospatial applications in the studied conditions can be improved. The transfer of the empirically acquired knowledge of the landmark perception to geoinformatics was illustrated with a formal landmark ontology for hiking in nature. The measures of landmark recall were found unexpectedly similar in all the studied conditions. The similarity was explained by the salience of landmarks in nature and the structure of route-like sketch maps but also by the participants' conceptions on what should be drawn on maps. "Passages" and "Structures" were the most-often drawn landmark groups on the sketch maps. Support of geospatial images for wayfinding was evaluated using a literature-based evaluation framework. Visualisation of elevation was experimented with by rendering a 3D map, a derivative of which was compared to 2D elevation visualisations in an eye-tracking study. Vertical elements and elevation were found to be central wayfinding elements in geo-images and the aerial oblique vantage point the most effective image parameter for transferring spatial knowledge. The rendered 3D map was evaluated as cognitively demanding to look at but, however, showed potential in representing the terrain relief. The dissertation also considers challenges in the application of the methods of spatial cognition research and identifies directions for future studies.Tämä väitöskirja hyödyntää spatiaalisen kognition tutkimusta ja menetelmiä tavoitteena vaikuttaa geospatiaalisten sovellusten kehittämiseen reitinkulun tukemisen osalta. Geospatiaalisten sovellusten, kuten vuorovaikutteisten karttojen ja mobiilien navigointisovellusten, suunnittelu ja kehittäminen on tyypillisesti pohjautunut syvälliseen maanmittauksen, kartografian ja geoinformatiikan asiantuntijuuteen. Tämä on usein johtanut monimutkaisiin sovelluksiin, jotka monet kokevat vaikeiksi käyttää. Spatiaalisen kognition tutkimus voi tarjota tietoa ihmisen spatiaalisesta ajattelusta sovellusten käyttötilanteissa ja täydentää käytettävyystutkimuksilla saavutettua tietämystä. Maamerkkien havaitsemista luonnossa tutkittiin eri vuoden- ja vuorokaudenaikoina. Koehenkilöt kävelivät luontoreitit kesällä, talvella, päivällä ja yöllä ajatellen ääneen ympäristön maamerkeistä. Maamerkkien muistamista tutkittiin karttaluonnoksin ja valokuvantunnistuksella. Ääneenajattelu analysoitiin ilmaisujen luokittelulla ja luonnollisen kielen käsittelyllä. Maamerkit todettiin tärkeiksi reitin hahmottamiselle luonnossa. "Rakennukset", "kulkuväylät" ja "opasteet" olivat eniten havaitut maamerkkiryhmät. Vuodenajan ja vuorokaudenajan todettiin vaikuttavan maamerkkien hahmottamiseen. Tulosten perusteella voidaan parantaa geospatiaalisten sovellusten mukautuvuutta tutkituissa olosuhteissa. Saavutettua kokeellista tutkimustietoa voidaan hyödyntää geoinformatiikan sovelluksissa käyttäen luotua formaalia maamerkkiontologiaa. Maamerkkien muistaminen oli vastoin odotuksia hyvin samankaltaista tutkittujen olosuhteiden kesken. Samankaltaisuus selittyi maamerkkien havaittavuudella luonnossa ja karttaluonnosten reittikeskeisyydellä, mutta myös koehenkilöiden käsityksellä kohteista, jotka on tarpeen piirtää kartalle. "Kulkuväylät" ja "rakennukset" olivat karttaluonnosten piirretyimmät maamerkkiryhmät. Geospatiaalisten kuvien tukea reitinkululle tutkittiin käyttäen kirjallisuuteen perustuvaa arviointikehystä. Korkeuden esittämistä tutkittiin koostamalla kokeellinen 3D-kartta, josta johdettua karttaa verrattiin silmänliiketutkimuksessa kaksiulotteisiin korkeudenesitystapoihin. Tutkimukset vahvistivat geokuvien korkeusesityksen ja pystysuorien kohteiden tärkeyden reitinkulun tukemisessa. Yläviisto katselukulma havaittiin yhdeksi tehokkaimmista kuvaparametreista spatiaalisen tiedon välittämisessä. Koostettu 3D-kartta osoittautui kognitiivisesti kuormittavaksi lukea, mutta ilmensi kehitysmahdollisuuksia maaston korkeuserojen esittämisessä. Väitöskirja käsittelee myös haasteita spatiaalisen kognition tutkimusmenetelmien soveltamisessa ja esittää tulevaisuuden tutkimusaiheita

Analysing landmarks in nature and elements of geospatial images to support wayfinding

Osajulkaisut: Publication 1: Kettunen P., Putto K., Gyselinck V., Krause C. M. and L. T. Sarjakoski, 2014. Perception and recall of landmarks by day and night along a route in nature. In: Vondrakova A., Brus J., Voženilek V. (eds.) CARTOCON 2014. Modern trends in Cartography. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography. Springer, Cham, Switzerland. Publication 2: Kettunen P., Irvankoski K., Krause C. M. and L. T. Sarjakoski, 2013. Landmarks in nature to support wayfinding: effects of seasons and experimental methods. Cognitive Processing 14(3): 245–253. DOI:10.1007/s10339-013-0538-4 Publication 3: Sarjakoski L. T., Kettunen P., Flink H.-M., Laakso M., Ronneberg M. and T. Sarjakoski, 2012. Analysis of Verbal Route Descriptions and Landmarks for Hiking. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 16(8): 1001–1011. DOI:10.1007/s00779-011-0460-7 Publication 4: Sarjakoski L. T., Kettunen P., Flink H.-M., Laakso M., Ronneberg M., Stigmar H. and T. Sarjakoski, 2013. Landmarks and a hiking ontology to support wayfinding in a national park during different seasons. In: Raubal M., Frank A. U. and D. M. Mark (eds.) Cognitive and Linguistic Aspects of Geographic Space. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography. Springer, Berlin, Germany, pp. 99–119. DOI:10.1007/978-3-642-34359-9_6 Publication 5: Kettunen P., Irvankoski K., Krause C. M., Sarjakoski T. and L. T. Sarjakoski, 2012. Geospatial images in the acquisition of spatial knowledge for wayfinding. Journal of Spatial Information Science 5: 75–106. DOI:10.5311/JOSIS.2012.5.85 Publication 6: Kettunen P., Sarjakoski T., Sarjakoski L. T. and J. Oksanen, 2009. Cartographic Portrayal of Terrain in Oblique Parallel Projection. In: Proc. of the 24th International Cartographic Conference. Nov 15–21, Santiago, Chile. Publication 7: Putto K., Kettunen P., Torniainen J., Krause C. M. and L. T. Sarjakoski, 2014. Effects of cartographic elevation visualizations and mapreading tasks on eye movements. The Cartographic Journal 51(3): 225–236. DOI:10.1179/1743277414Y.0000000087This dissertation applies the research and methods of spatial cognition in order to contribute to the development of wayfinding support in geospatial applications. The design and development of geospatial applications, such as interactive maps and mobile navigation applications, has been typically founded on the expertise of surveying, cartography and geoinformatics. This has often led to relatively complex expert tools that many users find difficult to use. The research of spatial cognition can provide elementary understanding about human thinking in the use situations of these applications and supplement the knowledge gained using the usability research. Perception of landmarks along routes in nature was studied in season and time-of-day studies with participants who walked nature trails in summer, winter, day and night while thinking aloud about the surroundings. The recall of the route was measured afterwards using sketch-map drawing and photo recognition tasks. The think-aloud protocols were analysed using classification of propositions and natural language processing. The importance of landmarks for the human route perception in nature was confirmed. "Structures", "Passages" and "Waters" were the most perceived landmark groups. Season and time-of-day significantly affected landmark perception and, based on the results, the adaptivity of geospatial applications in the studied conditions can be improved. The transfer of the empirically acquired knowledge of the landmark perception to geoinformatics was illustrated with a formal landmark ontology for hiking in nature. The measures of landmark recall were found unexpectedly similar in all the studied conditions. The similarity was explained by the salience of landmarks in nature and the structure of route-like sketch maps but also by the participants' conceptions on what should be drawn on maps. "Passages" and "Structures" were the most-often drawn landmark groups on the sketch maps. Support of geospatial images for wayfinding was evaluated using a literature-based evaluation framework. Visualisation of elevation was experimented with by rendering a 3D map, a derivative of which was compared to 2D elevation visualisations in an eye-tracking study. Vertical elements and elevation were found to be central wayfinding elements in geo-images and the aerial oblique vantage point the most effective image parameter for transferring spatial knowledge. The rendered 3D map was evaluated as cognitively demanding to look at but, however, showed potential in representing the terrain relief. The dissertation also considers challenges in the application of the methods of spatial cognition research and identifies directions for future studies.Tämä väitöskirja hyödyntää spatiaalisen kognition tutkimusta ja menetelmiä tavoitteena vaikuttaa geospatiaalisten sovellusten kehittämiseen reitinkulun tukemisen osalta. Geospatiaalisten sovellusten, kuten vuorovaikutteisten karttojen ja mobiilien navigointisovellusten, suunnittelu ja kehittäminen on tyypillisesti pohjautunut syvälliseen maanmittauksen, kartografian ja geoinformatiikan asiantuntijuuteen. Tämä on usein johtanut monimutkaisiin sovelluksiin, jotka monet kokevat vaikeiksi käyttää. Spatiaalisen kognition tutkimus voi tarjota tietoa ihmisen spatiaalisesta ajattelusta sovellusten käyttötilanteissa ja täydentää käytettävyystutkimuksilla saavutettua tietämystä. Maamerkkien havaitsemista luonnossa tutkittiin eri vuoden- ja vuorokaudenaikoina. Koehenkilöt kävelivät luontoreitit kesällä, talvella, päivällä ja yöllä ajatellen ääneen ympäristön maamerkeistä. Maamerkkien muistamista tutkittiin karttaluonnoksin ja valokuvantunnistuksella. Ääneenajattelu analysoitiin ilmaisujen luokittelulla ja luonnollisen kielen käsittelyllä. Maamerkit todettiin tärkeiksi reitin hahmottamiselle luonnossa. "Rakennukset", "kulkuväylät" ja "opasteet" olivat eniten havaitut maamerkkiryhmät. Vuodenajan ja vuorokaudenajan todettiin vaikuttavan maamerkkien hahmottamiseen. Tulosten perusteella voidaan parantaa geospatiaalisten sovellusten mukautuvuutta tutkituissa olosuhteissa. Saavutettua kokeellista tutkimustietoa voidaan hyödyntää geoinformatiikan sovelluksissa käyttäen luotua formaalia maamerkkiontologiaa. Maamerkkien muistaminen oli vastoin odotuksia hyvin samankaltaista tutkittujen olosuhteiden kesken. Samankaltaisuus selittyi maamerkkien havaittavuudella luonnossa ja karttaluonnosten reittikeskeisyydellä, mutta myös koehenkilöiden käsityksellä kohteista, jotka on tarpeen piirtää kartalle. "Kulkuväylät" ja "rakennukset" olivat karttaluonnosten piirretyimmät maamerkkiryhmät. Geospatiaalisten kuvien tukea reitinkululle tutkittiin käyttäen kirjallisuuteen perustuvaa arviointikehystä. Korkeuden esittämistä tutkittiin koostamalla kokeellinen 3D-kartta, josta johdettua karttaa verrattiin silmänliiketutkimuksessa kaksiulotteisiin korkeudenesitystapoihin. Tutkimukset vahvistivat geokuvien korkeusesityksen ja pystysuorien kohteiden tärkeyden reitinkulun tukemisessa. Yläviisto katselukulma havaittiin yhdeksi tehokkaimmista kuvaparametreista spatiaalisen tiedon välittämisessä. Koostettu 3D-kartta osoittautui kognitiivisesti kuormittavaksi lukea, mutta ilmensi kehitysmahdollisuuksia maaston korkeuserojen esittämisessä. Väitöskirja käsittelee myös haasteita spatiaalisen kognition tutkimusmenetelmien soveltamisessa ja esittää tulevaisuuden tutkimusaiheita

Integrating Haptic Feedback into Mobile Location Based Services

Haptics is a feedback technology that takes advantage of the human sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to a haptic-enabled device such as a mobile phone. Historically, human-computer interaction has been visual - text and images on the screen. Haptic feedback can be an important additional method especially in Mobile Location Based Services such as knowledge discovery, pedestrian navigation and notification systems. A knowledge discovery system called the Haptic GeoWand is a low interaction system that allows users to query geo-tagged data around them by using a point-and-scan technique with their mobile device. Haptic Pedestrian is a navigation system for walkers. Four prototypes have been developed classified according to the user’s guidance requirements, the user type (based on spatial skills), and overall system complexity. Haptic Transit is a notification system that provides spatial information to the users of public transport. In all these systems, haptic feedback is used to convey information about location, orientation, density and distance by use of the vibration alarm with varying frequencies and patterns to help understand the physical environment. Trials elicited positive responses from the users who see benefit in being provided with a “heads up” approach to mobile navigation. Results from a memory recall test show that the users of haptic feedback for navigation had better memory recall of the region traversed than the users of landmark images. Haptics integrated into a multi-modal navigation system provides more usable, less distracting but more effective interaction than conventional systems. Enhancements to the current work could include integration of contextual information, detailed large-scale user trials and the exploration of using haptics within confined indoor spaces