The territory is the map : exploring the use of landmarks in situ to inform mobile guide design

Abstract

People have difficulties interacting with external representations designed to guide navigating physical environments. We derive theory to inform design by probing users’ experience and use of their internal representations in a temporally evolving wayfinding activity in situ. Interactions with environmental landmarks are explored by analyzing spatial concepts in SMSs used by a group collaborating to wayfind to an unfamiliar rendezvous. Results show differences between landmarks provoking actions and contributing to abstract concepts; and, effects of direct or induced perspective in situ. Design recommendations account for orientation dependence and use of ambiguity in user-world-representation mappings. These include tactics to enable users’ to induce perspectives appropriately: with accuracy for recognising landmarks along routes and agility to situate landmark use in naturally evolving wayfinding goals.