Presenting map information on a global positioning system

Abstract

A Global Positioning System (GPS) in an automobile can provide navigational information for identifying the current location of the driver and helping him determine a desirable route to the destination. This study examined two critical factors in designing the electronic map on the GPS. The rotation and movement methods of the map were manipulated in a simulated driving environment. Three usability measures (arrival time, navigation inefficiency, and map reading time) were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the usability of the map was largely dependent upon the movement method in terms of the arrival time. It was also dependent upon the rotation method and the interaction between the rotation and movement method in terms of the map reading time. Design guidelines are suggested based on the experimental results. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.