Google Indoor Maps or Google Indoor No Maps? Usability Study of an Adapted Mobile Indoor Wayfinding Aid

Abstract

ARC is an adaptive indoor mobile wayfinding system, which was developed based on the results of a previous online survey. The ARC system links data from several sources to enable a route guidance adapted to the environment: the type of route instruction is adapted to the location of the user. In this study, the usability of the system was tested in a smart building by use of a mobile eye-tracker. Five eye tracking measures were analyzed and compared with the space syntax values of the decision points. The results confirm that video instructions can improve support at complex decision points, while symbols might not be supportive enough at these points in the indoor environment. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between environment and complexity perception during route guidance, which is essential for supportive indoor route guidance.