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Thesis » Overview

This study investigated performance differences that resulted from using different types of displays to present navigation information. The results indicated that a pictorial route map (RP) was the worst way to present navigation information for in-car movingmap navigation systems. While using this map configuration, subject performance was consistently poor across all dependent measures. This poor performance could be due to a number of problems inherent to pictorial route maps. The presentation of entire route information may be overwhelming in actual driving situations, and should therefore be avoided when the vehicle is in motion. However, because pictorial full-route maps can offer drivers a valuable preview, they should be employed as a pretrip planning tool, made available only when the vehicle is stationary.

The study indicated that subjects who used verbal maps tended to perform as well as those who used turn-by-turn maps and far better than those who used pictorial route maps. It was suggested that the lower performance of the pictorial route map usage might result from inconsistent information displays. Due to the limited amount of space available on the display, designers are likely to employ some type of algorithm for determining which information to display. Because route configurations are highly variant, the algorithm may be unable to display certain information items consistently. The findings also suggest that configurations that do not display full routes might prove more effective in terms of attention and information retrieval.

It is important to note that the current test and evaluation involved only static navigation screens. Several other factors must be considered if this study's findings are to be extended to real-world driving and navigation. For example, turn-by-turn configurations have certain disadvantages in dynamic systems. The dynamic system may not be able to present a series of close-proximity turns quickly enough for a driver to perceive, process, and react to the information effectively.

Results of this study also indicate that the pictorial turn-by-turn map that displayed landmark information was most preferred overall. The other two pictorial turn-by-turn configurations with lane information presented separately from the intersection, or with just basic information about the intersection, were preferred over verbal maps and route maps (Mitchell, 1993). Most of the results on navigation systems seem to support the recommendations outlined by Streeter (1985), which suggest that drivers should be presented with information that is most proximal to their location. Previous research also suggests that studying paper maps of a given route either substitutes for a cognitive map or aids in developing one. This cognitive map provides an orienting schema, which helps people organize information about an unfamiliar area (Antin, Dingus, Hulse, and Wierwille, 1990). Therefore, full-route information might aid drivers in the overall navigational task by helping them develop a cognitive map and survey knowledge of the area surrounding their route.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Thomas A. Dingus and Melissa C. Hulse for their incomparable patience, insight, and support throughout this project. The author also wishes to thank Dr. Richard T. Gill for his statistical guidance and foresight, as well as Dr. Douglas J. Gillan for his computer, organizational and statistical support.

Karen Falke is greatly appreciated for her continual help in programming SAS, and Marty Zimmerman for his invaluable computer assistance. I would also like to express my appreciation to Steven S. Wreggit for his help in data collection, as well as those subjects who participated in this project. In addition, I would like to thank my parents and family for their unending support throughout the course of this endeavor.

This research was funded by General Motors. Additional thanks should be extended to Rebecca N. Fleischman for her technical guidance, as well as providing me with the opportunity to be involved in such a project.