Users’ Visual Experience During Temporal Navigation in Forecast Weather Maps on Mobile Devices

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of graphical user interface (GUI) design on the efficiency and effectiveness of map-based tasks on mobile devices, using time-based weather data as a case study. Three different GUI designs (button-type, circle-type, and slidebar) were tested in a between-subjects design, with 50 participants completing a set of map-based tasks on each GUI design. The results showed that GUI design significantly affected the effectiveness of map-based tasks. Participants performed better at tasks involving the search for the highest and lowest temperature amplitudes on the button-type GUI whereas the circle-type GUI showed lower effectiveness for tasks involving the search for day temperatures. Analysis of the visual attention distribution based on fixation count revealed that different GUI designs led to different patterns of visual attention. The study highlights the importance of considering GUI design in the development of mobile map applications, particularly for map-based tasks involving time-based data. The study shows that separating the date from the time navigation panel reduces necessary visual focus on the GUI itself and is a valuable insight for future GUI design.