Wayfinding Aids Research Articles

A wayfinding aid to increase navigator independence

Wayfinding aids are of great benefit because users do not have to rely on their learned geographic knowledge or orientation skills alone for successful navigation. Additionally, cognitive resources usually captured by this activity can be spent elsewhere. A challenge, however, remains for wayfinding aid developers. Due to the automation of wayfinding aids, navigator independence may be decreasing via the use of these aids. In order to address this, wayfinding aids might be improved additionally to perform a training role. Since the most versatile wayfinders appear to deploy a dual strategy for geographic orientation, it is proposed that wayfinding aids be improved to foster such an approach. This paper presents the results of an experimental study testing a portion of the suggested enhancement.

Care home design for people with dementia: What do people with dementia and their family carers value?

Objectives: To report on the views of people with dementia who live in care homes and their family carers on aspects of design that are important to them, and discuss these in relation to developing physical care environments that respond to the wishes of people with dementia and their family carers. Method: Six focus groups were held: two in Northern Ireland and four in Scotland. A total of 40 people participated in the focus groups. Twenty nine people were with dementia (24 female and five male), and 11 were family carers (10 female and one male). Results: Carers discussed the features of a building they took into account when selecting a care home, and discussed this in relation to ‘bricks and mortar versus people’. Key themes reported by people with dementia and their family carers included how the space in the environment is used, for example, what happens in the building and the presence or absence of certain design features. Outside space and wayfinding aids were identified as positive features of the home, along with a general lack of concern about ensuite provision. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the complexity of building design as it must provide living space acceptable to people with dementia living there and family members who visit, as well as provide a workable environment for staff. The findings highlight areas that should be considered by care home teams involved in the build of a new home or the redevelopment of an existing care home.

Robust real-time detection of multi-color markers on a cell phone

We describe a fast algorithm to detect special multi-color markers with a camera cell phone. These color markers can be used for environmental labeling, for example, as a wayfinding aid for persons with visual impairment. Using a cascade of elemental detectors, robust detection is achieved at an extremely low computational cost. We also introduce a strategy to select surfaces for the marker that ensure very low specular reflection, thus facilitating color-based recognition.

An optimization model for wayfinding problems in terminal building

Passenger orientation (wayfinding) is one of the important factors for the layout design of airport terminals. It is common that some people have difficulties in locating their destinations in spite of availability of wayfinding aids. Visibility index is commonly used to evaluate the ease of wayfinding. However, there is a lack of studies for the determination of the appropriate locations for setting up wayfinding aids in airport terminals so as to enhance the ease of wayfinding. In this paper, a binary linear program is proposed for better allocation of directional signs for wayfinding. The proposed model can be widely applied to practical situations so as to improve the design of signage system in various enclosed environments including airport terminals, multi-function railway stations, and shopping malls.

Guiding the Way: Exploring cycle tourists’ needs and preferences for cycling route maps and signage

Due to their mobile, self‐propelled nature, independent cycle tourists are a unique group because they are reliant upon accurate wayfinding aids to facilitate trip planning and navigation while en route. Directorial and/or informative signage and cartographic maps are important wayfinding aids for these tourists. However, little research to date has considered the needs and preferences of independent cycle tourists with reference to wayfinding aids. This paper presents a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence collected from a broader study of independent cycle tourists in Australia. The research found that the personal health and safety of cycle tourists can be compromised by the provision of inaccurate information published on maps and signage. Female cycle tourists appeared to be more susceptible to wayfinding anxiety than males, and exhibited a stronger desire to be well informed about the nature of the routes they will cycle on. Implications for the planning and management of initiatives designed to attract independent cycle tourists to a destination region are highlighted, as are potential areas for future research.

Evaluation of Wayfinding Aids in Virtual Environment

It is difficult for a navigator to find directions to a given target in an unfamiliar environment, especially a virtual environment. The commonly used overview maps can show survey knowledge only on one particular scale but cannot provide spatial knowledge at other scales. In this study, three wayfinding aids (a view-in-view map, animation guide, and human system collaboration) were compared experimentally in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and users' satisfaction. Results show that although these three aids all can effectively help participants find targets quicker and easier, their usefulness is different, with the view-in-view map being the best and human system collaboration the worst. Their usefulness also appears to be different for people with different spatial abilities. The results indicate that the design of wayfinding tools in virtual environments should consider the type and the presentation style of spatial information based on wayfinding tasks and users' spatial ability.

A wayfinding pilot study: the use of the Intelligent Public Vehicle by people with visual impairment

This pilot study on wayfinding for people with visual impairments concerns the viability of the Individual Public Vehicle (IPV). The results showed that the participants positively evaluated this new wayfinding aid because it requires little attention and little physical effort, and gives satisfaction. Moreover, as far as identifying the location of the IPV is concerned, an auditory message activated by users is judged less stressful. The IPV seems to be adapted to safe travel.

Color Targets: Fiducials to Help Visually Impaired People Find Their Way by Camera Phone

A major challenge faced by the blind and visually impaired population is that of wayfinding--the ability of a person to find his or her way to a given destination. We propose a new wayfinding aid based on a camera cell phone, which is held by the user to find and read aloud specially designed machine-readable signs, which we call color targets, in indoor environments (labeling locations such as offices and restrooms). Our main technical innovation is that we have designed the color targets to be detected and located in fractions of a second on the cell phone CPU, even at a distance of several meters. Once the sign has been quickly detected, nearby information in the form of a barcode can be read, an operation that typically requires more computational time. An important contribution of this paper is a principled method for optimizing the design of the color targets and the color target detection algorithm based on training data, instead of relying on heuristic choices as in our previous work. We have implemented the system on Nokia 7610 cell phone, and preliminary experiments with blind subjects demonstrate the feasibility of using the system as a real-time wayfinding aid.

Verbal guidance rules for a localized wayfinding aid intended for blind-pedestrians in urban areas

Automatic wayfinding verbal aids for blind pedestrians in simple and structured urban areas are claimed to rely on specific database features and guidance functions (i.e., instructions and spatial information provided at specific places). This paper reports an experiment in which these requirements for such areas, and for complex and unstructured urban areas, were tested by 7 cane- and 3 dog-users. Very few hesitations and errors along with the need for few modifications of the verbal guidance rules and for a one-meter localization device for traversing crosswalks were found. Further research issues for designing a localized verbal navigational aid are also presented (i.e., extension/diversification of the population and gradual introduction of the interface).

Exploring the Functional Specifications of a Localized Wayfinding Verbal Aid forBlind Pedestrians: Simple and Structured Urban Areas

We propose functional specifications for a localized verbal wayfinding aid for blind pedestrians, in simple and structured urban areas. A user-centered design approach, that is, the analyses of route descriptions produced by blind pedestrians, allowed first to evidence verbal guidance rules and then to elaborate route descriptions of unfamiliar paths; their efficiency was confirmed.We found that specific database features are streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections and that guidance functions consist of a combination of orientation and localization, goal location, intersection, crosswalks, and warning information as well as of progression, crossing, orientation, and route-ending instructions; they have to be provided between 5 to 10 meters before an intersection, after crossing, at middle block, and after entering a street. Last, verbal guidance is possible in simple and structured urban areas, with no localization aid, and is optimal within 5 meters' precision. The outcomes and limits of the requirements of the navigational aid evidenced are discussed.

Wayfinding choremes—a language for modeling conceptual route knowledge

The emergent interest in ontological and conceptual approaches to modeling route information results from new information technologies as well as from a multidisciplinary interest in spatial cognition. Linguistics investigates verbal route directions; cartography carries out research on route maps and on the information needs of map users; and computer science develops formal representations of routes with the aim to build new wayfinding applications. In concert with geomatics, ontologies of spatial domain knowledge are assembled while sensing technologies for location-aware wayfinding aids are developed simultaneously (e.g. cell phones, GPS-enabled devices or PDAs). These joint multidisciplinary efforts have enhanced cognitive approaches for route directions. In this article, we propose an interdisciplinary approach to modeling route information, the wayfinding choreme theory. Wayfinding choremes are mental conceptualizations of functional wayfinding and route direction elements. With the wayfinding choreme theory, we propose a formal treatment of (mental) conceptual route knowledge that is based on qualitative calculi and refined by behavioral experimental research. This contribution has three parts: First, we introduce the theory of wayfinding choremes. Second, we present term rewriting rules that are grounded in cognitive principles and can tailor route directions to different user requirements. Third, we exemplify various application scenarios for our approach.

Determination of service levels for passenger orientation in Hong Kong International Airport

Passenger orientation (wayfinding) is one of the importance factors for the layout design of airport passenger terminal. It is common that some people have difficulties in locating their destinations in spite of availability of information signs. This paper describes the use of a quantitative measure, visibility index (VI), to evaluate the ease of locating various airport passenger/visitor facilities in the Departures Level of Hong Kong International Airport. A new set of level-of-service (LOS) standards for orientation has been proposed based on the visibility indices of the terminal facilities. The comparison results show that the newly proposed standards are similar to those suggested in a pervious study. By matching the weight of the facilities and their corresponding VI, terminal facilities require wayfinding improvement were identified. It is believed that the VI and proposed LOS standards can be used as criteria for design and improvement of airport terminal layout and wayfinding aids.

Implementing assistive technology on wearable computers

What might seem perfectly intuitive to a young rehabilitation engineer designing assistive devices might not be intuitive at all to a disabled or elderly person experiencing a serious loss of function for the first time. When designers understand the complex nature of disabilities, they are more likely to meet the disabled users' needs. Using the results of his work in designing assistive technology, the author describes impaired people's needs and offers design strategies to accommodate them. He also presents his research to develop a wearable computer-based orientation and wayfinding aid for the severely visually impaired.

British Antidiscrimination Legislation and Wayfinding in Buildings in Scotland

This article presents the results of a study of the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 on the provision of wayfinding aids in local authority buildings in Scotland. The study found that although the DDA has raised awareness in local authorities of the needs of disabled users of buildings, it has not necessarily led to the incorporation of wayfinding aids in new or refurbished buildings.

Walking speed of visually impaired people with two talking electronic travel systems

Two electronic systems for indoor use were tested as a way-finding aid by 25 visually impaired people. The Blind Orientation System (BOS) is a system with talking sign posts that point to a selection of destinations; the Easy Walker (EW) is a talking route system that guides the user to the destination which is entered into the personal receiver at the start. Both systems make use of ceiling-mounted beacons and infrared communication between the beacons and the personal receiver. Results were compared to the way-finding performance after a verbal route description by a passer-by. The walking speed was slower (0.74x) using BOS and faster (1.18x) using EW than after a verbal route description. EW was easy to use in combination with a guide dog. The number of times that additional information was needed or correction was given was about equal with the verbal route instruction and BOS, but about three to four times less with EW. Statements on items of appreciation of the systems were scored in favor of EW by ...

Development of a New Orientation Index for Airport Terminals

Some people have difficulty locating their destinations in airport terminals in spite of the availability of signs. The reasons for this wayfinding problem are numerous, and they include the complexity of the terminals as well as the wayfinding aids within them. An improved quantitative measure of human orientation called the visibility index (VI) is investigated. The effects of the number of signs or decision points and the number of level changes on visual access were investigated in an experiment in a complex building at The University of Calgary. A relationship between the slowness in reaching a destination, the number of decision points, and the number of level changes was developed. A survey of 32 common terminal activity centers was conducted. The ranks and weights of these activity centers were determined based on responses of airport users at three airports. The weight and the slowness factor were incorporated into the VI model, which was tested at Vancouver International Airport.

Audible Signage as a Wayfinding Aid: Verbal Landmark versus Talking Signs

This article reports on an evaluation of two technologies—Verbal Landmark and Talking Signs—that provide speech messages to handheld receivers. On all measures, the Talking Signs system proved superior to the Verbal Landmark system.

Factors that Enhance Effectiveness of Visitor Maps

The focus of the series of studies reported here is on the effectiveness of handout maps as wayfinding aids for museum visitors, and on the importance of wayfinding to the quality of museum visitors' experiences. The design of the handout maps that were used in the studies was guided by a series of cognitively based principles that focus on the concept of simplicity. More than 700 visitors participated in these studies, which involved both surveys and performance measures. The results show that visitors are eager to use handout maps and find them helpful even when they contain few details. Furthermore, visitors who were given simple handout maps reported more positive expectations of their visit, and satisfaction levels were higher among exiting visitors who felt that they had been able to find their way around the museum more easily.

Wayfinding by Newcomers in a Complex Building

We conducted several experiments to determine the characteristics of an optimal wayfinding aid for new users of a complex building. In Experiment 1 wayfinders who used signs found their destinations fastest. Those using you-are-here maps were much slower than even those wayfinders given no aids. The main advantage of signs over you-are-here maps results from information-processing differences: Signs provide clear cues about turns and decisions without requiring study time or imposing a high memory load. In Experiment 2 we found that people prefer routes that require the least amount of energy expenditure. Contrary to findings of previous research, we did not find complexity to be an important variable. A third experiment, using artificial floor plans of buildings, confirmed that minimizing energy is much more important than complexity in determining preferred routes. Finally, in Experiment 4, we investigated wayfinders' heuristics and the information necessary to provide unambiguous signs.

Tactile directories of building interiors as orienting and way-finding aids for the visually impaired: A prototype : Brecht, M., and Preiser, W.F.E. In: Human Factors: Science for Working and Living, Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society, Los Angeles, Oct 1980, Edited by G.E. Corrick et al, pp 405–407

Tactile directories of building interiors as orienting and way-finding aids for the visually impaired: A prototype : Brecht, M., and Preiser, W.F.E. In: Human Factors: Science for Working and Living, Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society, Los Angeles, Oct 1980, Edited by G.E. Corrick et al, pp 405–407