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Abstract
The main aim of this paper is to measure the acceptability and effectiveness of three spatial analysis tools applied to functional map interfaces, by means of answering if the common web map user can make use of these tools and if this use is beneficial to a spatial task accomplishment. Also it was verified what user’s attributes influence the performance. To achieve this, a quantitative statistical analysis with a random user sample was held, with tests carried out remotely. Results showed that previous map experience and higher educational levels may influence positively the manipulation of the interface and that there is not a clear indication that the presence of the spatial analysis tools analysed had a positive influence on the tasks’ results. For the other side, users that choose to use these tools had significantly better performance than those who did not use them.
This paper is based on André Mendonça’s MSc thesis and the authors wish to thank CAPES, Brazilian government fund, for scientific research, for the financial support during the 2 years of his master’s degree course, and CNPQ, Brazilian Council, for research, for the financial support to Dr Luciene Delazari’s research project. Also we need to say thank you to all of the anonymous Internet users that kindly had agreed to take part into the experiment presented here.
