The effects of "order" and "disorder" on human cognitive perception in navigating through urban environments

This paper investigates how “order”, “structure”, and “disorder” of street layouts are perceived when navigating through an urban environment. It builds on the assumption that a mixture of “order” and “disorder” might be a key factor for the quality of understanding within an urban context and that an “ordered” environment tends to be more intelligible when broken up by an irregularity occasionally. Knowledge about urban layouts can be accrued by the traveller in different ways: From static viewpoints, from top-down maps, and in travelling through the scenery. Cognitive processes that are involved in organising information about the structure of the built environment are known to simplify and schematise information. Such a “mental map” creates an image of the city, helps in memorising it and facilitates wayfinding tasks. Wayfinding experiments and investigations into the configuration of street networks have so far supported the understanding of movement behaviour and given insight from different perspectives on an urban environment. This paper will attempt to relate two aspects - configurational and sequential experiences of navigation (along a route) - to each other in using a methodological framework that allows for comparison of quantitative measurements and findings from both fields of research. The centre of attention will be the perception of “order”, “structure” and “disorder” from both perspectives: From “above” and from “along within” an urban environment. A virtual movement experiment with pre-chosen routes through six city samples is expected to provide meaningful empirical data with view on the perception of both configurational (view from above) and sequential (moving through scenery) embodiments of “order” and “disorder”, thereby introducing a methodological approach that applies string code computation in the spirit of probabilistic information theory

Wayfinding without Visual Cues: Evaluation of an Interactive Audio Map System

Work completed as part of an MSc by Research project

Effectiveness of spatial knowledge acquisition in mountainous environment with paper and mobile maps

Mapy, obok bezpośredniego doświadczenia życiowego, są podstawowym źródłem informacji przestrzennej, a umiejętność rozumowego ujmowania relacji przestrzennych wyraża się w ludzkim myśleniu w postaci reprezentacji przestrzennych (Żyszkowska, 1996). Badania empiryczne, porównujące pozyskiwanie wiedzy przestrzennej, zdobytej na drodze użytkowania map papierowych i mobilnych pokazują, że korzystanie w czasie nawigacji z map mobilnych jest mniej efektywne w zakresie „uczenia” się przestrzeni (Aslan et al., 2006; Münzer et al., 2006; Ishikawa et al., 2008; Dillemuth, 2009; Willis et al., 2009; Field et al., 2011). Praca jest podsumowaniem przeprowadzonych przez autorkę wstępnych badań empirycznych z zakresu różnic pozyskiwania wiedzy przestrzennej o środowisku wysokogórskim w wyniku korzystania z map tradycyjnych i mobilnych. Badanie przeprowadzone zostało na 139 studentach pierwszego roku geografii i studiów biologicznogeograficznych (bez poruszania się w terenie). W pierwszej części eksperymentu studenci zapoznawali się z fragmentem nieznanej im mapy obszaru wysokogórskiego. Połowa losowo wybranych studentów pracowała z mapą mobilną, a reszta – z mapą papierową stanowiącą wydruk tejże mapy mobilnej w największej szczegółowości (skala 1:25 000). Druga część polegała na rozwiązaniu testu wyboru, w którym z pamięci odpowiadano na pytania dotyczące charakterystyki terenu. Analiza wyników przeprowadzona została w pięciu kategoriach odpowiadających kilku różnym rodzajom informacji o środowisku wysokogórskim: analiza odległości, wielkości, kierunków, poziomic oraz relacji topologicznych. We wszystkich kategoriach studenci pracujący z mapą mobilną wykazali uboższą wiedzę na temat przestrzeni. Najwyraźniejsze różnice wystąpiły w przypadku pytań dotyczących analizy poziomic, kierunków i wielkości. Na końcu wyszczególniono prawdopodobne przyczyny takich wyników.Maps are a main source of spatial information. The mental ability to organize spatial relations in person’s mind is referred to as spatial repesentation (Żyszkowska, 1996). Empirical studies show that individuals who use navigation applications with mobile maps have lower level of spatial knowledge acquisition than those working with paper maps (Aslan et al., 2006; Münzer et al., 2006; Ishikawa et al., 2008; Dillemuth, 2009; Willis et al., 2009; Field et al., 2011). The paper is a summary of preliminary research concerning differences in spatial knowledge acquisition based on paper and mobile maps in the mountainous environment. In the experiment 139 first year students of geography and biology were tested in class conditions. In the first part of the experiment, students became familiar with previously unknown mountain maps: a half of randomly selected students worked with a mobile map and the others with paper maps. The latter was a printed version of the mobile map in the highest accuracy level (scale 1:25 000). In the second part all students resolved the test referring to the mountain area represented on the maps. The analysis dealt with five spatial categories: distances, dimensions, directions, contour lines and topological relations. In all those categories students working with the mobile maps showed poorer acquisition of spatial knowledge. The highest differences appeared in questions referring to contour lines, directions and dimensions. These results confirm findings of other researchers. In conclusion potential reasons of these differences were discussed

How human schematization and systematic errors take effect on sketch map formalizations

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial TechnologiesSketch map is an important way to represent spatial information used in many geospatial reasoning tasks (Forbus, K., Usher, J., & Chapman, V. 2004). Compared with verbal or textual language, sketch map is a more interactive mode that more directly supports human spatial thinking and thus is a more natural way to reflect how people perceive properties of spatial objects and their spatial relations. One challenging application of sketch maps is called Spatial-Query-by-Sketch proposed by Egenhofer. Being a design of query language for geographic information systems (GISs), it allows a user to formulate a spatial query by drawing the desired spatial configuration with a pen on a touch-sensitive computer screen and get it translated into a symbolic representation to be processed against a geographic database (Egenhofer, M. 1997). During the period of sketch map drawing, errors due to human spatial cognition in mind may occur. A ready example is as follows: distance judgments for route are judged longer when the route has many turns or landmarks or intersections (Tversky, B. 2002). Direction get straightened up in memory. When Parisians were asked to sketch maps of their city, the Seine was drawn as a curve, but straighter than it actually is (Milgram, S. and Jodelet, D. 1976). Similarly, buildings and streets with different shapes are often simply depicted as schematic figures like blobs and lines. These errors are neither random nor due solely to ignorance; rather they appear to be a consequence of ordinary perceptual and cognitive processes (Tversky, 2003). Therefore, when processing sketch map analysis and representing it in a formal way, like Egenhofer's analysis approach for Spatial-Query-by-Sketch, the resulting formalization must necessarily be wrong if it does not account for the fact that some spatial information is distorted or omitted by humans. Therefore, when sketch map analysis is processed and represented in a formal way same as Egenhofer’s analytical approach to Spatial-Query-by-Sketch, the resulting formalization is simply erroneous since it never takes into account the fact that some spatial information is distorted or neglected in human perceptions. Though Spatial-Query-by-Sketch overcomes the limitations of conventional spatial query language by taking into consideration those alternative interaction methods between users and data, it is still not always true that accuracy of its query results is reliable.(...

A qualitive reasoning approach for improving query results for sketch based queries by topological analysis of spatial aggregation

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.Sketch-based spatial query systems provide an intuitive method of user interaction for spatial databases. These systems must be capable of interpreting user sketches in a way that matches the information that the user intended to provide. One challenge that must be overcome is that humans always simplify the environments they have experienced and this is reflected in the sketches they draw. One such simplification is manifested as aggregation or combination of spatial objects into conceptually or spatially related groups. In this thesis I develop a system that uses reasoning tools of the RCC-8 to evaluate sketchbased queries and provide a method for minimizing the effects of aggregation by determining whether a solution to a query can be expanded if some groups of regions are assumed to be parts of a larger aggregate region. If such a group of regions is found, then this group must be included in the solution. The solution is approximate because the approach taken only verifies that assumed parts of an aggregate are not inconsistent with the configuration of the whole solution. Only cases where the size of the solution equals the size of the query minus one are analysed. It is observed that correctly identifying aggregated regions leads to solutions that are more similar to the original query sketch when the size of every other solution is smaller than the size of the query or when a lower limit is placed on the acceptable size of a solution because the new, expanded or refined solution becomes more complete with respect to the sketch of the query

The role of interface configuration on performance accuracy in eyes-free touchscreen interaction

This paper describes the exploration of a new category of a touchscreen interface. An eyes-free interface harnesses innate human abilities and product affordances to allow reduced levels of visual attention. Interface design for eyes-free interaction with a featureless screen is highly challenging; however, it can be achieved by simplifying and optimizing menu layout patterns to take advantage of innate human abilities including proprioception and spatial memory. This opens up a range of possibilities for peripheral device control under one-handed thumb mobile interaction. To this end, two experiments with different modes of presentation were conducted to understand the effect of interface configurations on performance accuracy caused by spatial memory and proprioception. Spatial performance results from the interaction effect of both cognitive abilities on an eyes-free interface. Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved layouts with different spacing patterns have been tested in both tap and draw input modes. The results revealed that evenly spaced button alignment close to the reference frame with symmetrical patterns within a square interface area and a comfortable thumb range positively affect accuracy. The conclusions describe how alignment patterns and the mode of presentation affect visual perception and spatial integration, and a framework for the development of an eyes-free interface is set out

Mental Representations and Cognitive Maps in Humans a Review of Research and Theory 2

Streszczenie Celem publikacji jest zaprezentowanie dotychczasowej wiedzy, oraz badań na temat umysłowej reprezentacji przestrzeni człowieka w postaci map poznawczych. Zostaną przedstawione teoretyczne rozważania na temat charakterystyki, elementów składowych map poznawczych i błędów popełnianych w trakcie ich konstrukcji. Wskazane zostaną prawdopodobne podmiotowe uwarunkowania związane z mentalną rekonstrukcją przestrzeni. Ze względu na to, że współcześnie, środowiskiem ogromnej rzeszy ludzi jest środowisko zurbanizowane, w artykule wiele miejsca poświęcone zostało opisowi i analizie map poznawczych dokonanych przez Kevina Lyncha. W artykule ustosunkowano się także do pojęcia czytelności środowiska ze specjalnym uwzględnieniem środowiska miejskiego. Abstract This paper presents the current state of knowledge and research on human mental spatial representations in the form of cognitive maps. Theoretical consideration

Warning Compliance: Effects Of Stress And Working Memory

This study investigated the effects of cross-modality warning presentation and retention in a dual-task paradigm in a simulated military environment under various task-induced stress levels. It was also intended to determine what role working memory played in the mode of warning presentation that resulted in the highest retention and subsequent compliance. An all within participant design was created in order to determine if scores on working memory span tasks predicted performance across the varying forms of warning presentation. Furthermore, task-induced stress levels were varied over the course of the experiment to identify if workload transitions affected performance. Results revealed that when the presentation format and the response format matched (e.g., verbal-verbal), behavioral compliance was greater then when presentation and response format were mismatched (e.g., verbal-pictorial). Thus, it is not necessarily the presentation type that affects compliance, but the combination of presentation and response mode. Analysis also revealed that the pictorial-pictorial warning combination resulted in greater behavioral compliance compared to verbal-verbal or written-written combinations. The format of warning presentation did not affect performance on the operational tasks as predicted. Thus, the visual/spatial operational task, regardless of its complexity was not interrupted in timesharing with intra-modal warning presentations or cross-modal time-sharing. As predicted, task based stress affected the WCCOM task in all experimental procedures. Results further revealed that as task demand increased, performance on the WCCOM task decreased. Task demand did affect the operational tasks, the shooting and the navigation tasks. The shooting task, which was less complex than the navigation task was not affected by lower levels of task demand, but at the greatest level of demand (eight warnings) performance in the operational task, degraded. Degradations in performance on the more complex task, the navigation task, materialized at a moderate level of task demand (four warnings). For subjective ratings, task demand did affect workload ratings. As the task demand increased, the subjective workload ratings also increased, revealing a true association between workload and subjective ratings. The working memory separability hypothesis was supported by the working memory span tasks, but consequently they were not predictive of the warning presentation format