Mind the gap: Mobile applications and wayfinding

Abstract

This paper will focus on Global Positioning System (GPS) and it’s applied use as technological assistance for dynamic wayfinding. Through an overview of the cognitive strategies utilized in wayfinding it identifies some of the affordances offered by mobile GPS devices. As background it discusses map use and the acquisition of spatial knowledge, and additionally outlines the nature of spatial data interpretation required by mobile devices. It establishes that GPS applications exhibit spatial and temporal variations, and that this gives rise to inaccuracies. The discussion will then focus on generally characterizing these errors or ‘seams’ which are generated between the user, the interaction and the environment. It will summarise by outlining some possible features of GPS interfaces and the potential for communicating these seams as contextual attributes.