Field-based usability evaluation methodology for mobile geo-applications

An important aspect of a Dutch research project into usable (and well scaled) mobile maps for consumers is presented: the development of an appropriate field-based usability evaluation methodology for the prototype of a geo-mobile application that will be the result of a user centred design approach. Automatic generalisation, required for the user's orientation in space, but also for progressive data transfer, will be an important aspect of the prototype. What is reported here is an effective and technically unique user research methodology, based on a combination of video observation, thinking aloud and semi-structured interviewing. The experiments that have led to this outcome revealed some interesting usability issues that deserve further investigation

Cartographic limitations and possibilities on mobile devices

The fields of geoinformation technology and cartography have seen dramatic changes in the last decade. The dissemination of digital geospatial data is no longer bound by desktop platform. It is now monitored on mobile devices such as Palmtops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and Smart phones. The map display on a handheld device is a challenge to cartography due to the limiting factors of screen size, colors, resolution, processing power, memory and power supply. Though with technological advancements, these limiting factors are improving at a great pace, the small size display of devices still remains the same. Technological developments in the field of mobile computing are significant and more research is directed towards the use of mobile devices in geoinformation applications. However, new methods for location-based information, symbolization, data formats, context-based generalization and server-based real-time rendering are being explored for better cartographic visualization on the small display devices. Most of the present approaches are technology-driven, and have neglected the basic cartographic visualization aspects. This paper aims to present the limitations, and possibilities of map design for mobile applications with design recommendations for improving visualization. Recent developments in cartography have shown that procedures of making and using maps have changed significantly. The fields of acquiring, managing, analyzing, interactivity and visualizing large amounts of geospatial data have witnessed highly vibrant and important development over the last two decades and these are continuing (Kraak, 2002). Cartographers have been modifying the design rules for screen maps using new technologies like multimedia, animation and anamorphosis, because the design rules for printed maps that deal with the map field, typography, color management, piece composition, legend, title, margin decoration and back side, etc., are not suitable for screen reading anymore (Meng, 2003). In this changing environment, the World Wide Web (WWW) is one of the latest new media to present and disseminate geospatial data (Kraak, 2002). The basic principles of map design do not change due to the new web environment, though it offers some new interesting possibilities like multimedia and animation, along with a few limitations (Kraak, 2002; and Kraak and Ormeling, 2003). While designing the Web maps, the physical design in terms of file size and display size (Kraak, 2002) also has to be considered. Web map design requires extra attention due to the constraints of media, resolution, and bandwidth problems. Just scanning paper maps or using default GIS maps for the web is not a good practice

User studies in cartography: opportunities for empirical research on interactive maps and visualizations

The possibility of digital interactivity requires us to reenvision the map reader as the map user, and to address the perceptual, cognitive, cultural, and practical considerations that influence the user’s experience with interactive maps and visualizations. In this article, we present an agenda for empirical research on this user and the interactive designs he or she employs. The research agenda is a result of a multi-stage discussion among international scholars facilitated by the International Cartographic Association that included an early round of position papers and two subsequent workshops to narrow into pressing themes and important research opportunities. The focus of our discussion is epistemological and reflects the wide interdisciplinary influences on user studies in cartography. The opportunities are presented as imperatives that cross basic research and user-centered design studies, and identify practical impediments to empirical research, emerging interdisciplinary recommendations to improve user studies, and key research needs specific to the study of interactive maps and visualizations. La possibilité de l’interactivité numérique nous pousse à revoir le lecteur de cartes comme un utilisateur de cartes et à traiter les considérations perceptuelles, cognitives, culturelles et pratiques qui influencent l’expérience d’un utilisateur de cartes et de visualisations interactives. Dans cet article nous présentons un agenda de recherche empirique sur cet utilisateur et sur les conceptions interactives qu’il ou elle réalise. L’agenda de recherche proposé est le résultat d’une discussion en plusieurs étapes menée par des spécialistes internationaux, facilitée par l’association cartographique internationale selon un processus comprenant un premier ensemble de papiers de positions, suivi de deux ateliers dont les objectifs étaient de se concentrer autour de thèmes prioritaires et d'opportunités de recherche majeures. L’objet de la discussion était épistémologique et reflète les larges influences interdisciplinaires des études portant sur les utilisateurs en cartographie. Les opportunités sont présentées comme des impératifs qui associent les recherches fondamentales aux études de conception centrées utilisateurs. Elles permettent d’identifier les obstacles pratiques aux recherches empiriques, les recommandations interdisciplinaires émergeantes pour améliorer les études des utilisateurs et les besoins de recherche prioritaires spécifiques à l’étude des cartes et visualisations interactives

Testing the Usability of OpenStreetMap's iD Tool

The objective of this study is to investigate the usability of the iD editor of OpenStreetMap (OSM). To this end a usability test with 18 participants has been conducted. The participants were given mapping tasks to complete using iD and observed with the thinking aloud method as well as screen recording and mouse/keyboard logging. Additionally, the test persons were interviewed after each test. The data gathered were analysed with regard to key usability criteria such as learnability, efficiency, error tolerance, and subjective user satisfaction. The outcome of this study is the identification of usability issues from which possible improvements of the tool have been derived. The study shows that iD is an overall usable tool for novice users, but still shows opportunities for improvement especially in terms of learnability and error handling

Exploratory querying of SPARQL endpoints in space and time

The linked data Web provides a simple and flexible way of accessing information resources in a self-descriptive format. This offers a realistic chance of perforating existing data silos. However, in order to do so, space, time and other semantic concepts need to function as dimensions for effectively exploring, querying and filtering contents. While triple stores, SPARQL endpoints, and RDF were designed for machine access, large burdens are still placed on a user to simultaneously explore and query the contents of a given endpoint according to these dimensions. First, one has to know the semantic concepts and the type of knowledge contained in an endpoint a-priori in order to query content effectively. Second, one has to be able to write and understand SPARQL and RDF. And third, one has to understand complex data type literals for space and time. In this article, we propose a way to deal with these challenges by interactive visual query construction, i.e., by letting query results feedback into both (space-time) exploration and filtering, and thus enabling exploratory querying. We propose design principles for SPEX (Spatio-temporal content explorer), a tool which helps people unfamiliar with the content of SPARQL endpoints or their syntax to explore the latter in space and time. In a preliminary user study on a repository of historical maps, we found that our feedback principles were effective, however, that successful question answering still requires improvements regarding space-time filtering, vocabulary explanation and the linking of space-time windows with other displays

User studies in cartography: A collaborative research agenda

The possibility of digital interactivity requires us to reenvision the map reader as the map user, and to address the new perceptual, cognitive, cultural, and practical considerations that now influence the user's experience with interactive maps and visualizations. Here, we present an agenda for empirical research on these users and the interactive designs they employ. This is one of several research agendas resulting from a multi-stage discussion among international scholars facilitated by the International Cartographic Association, which included an early round of position papers and two subsequent workshops to narrow into pressing themes and important research opportunities. The focus of this agenda is epistemological and reflects the wide interdisciplinary influences on user studies in cartography. The opportunities are presented as imperatives that cross basic research and user-centered design studies, and include practical impediments to empirical research, emerging interdisciplinary recommendations to improve user studies, and key research needs regarding the specific study of interactive maps and visualizations. This presentation is based on the article available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23729333.2017.1288534