Enhancing Spatial Knowledge With Discrete Euclidean Virtual 3D Display Interfaces: Design Options

Abstract

Getting lost within Internet applications has been addressed with limited success by treating hypertext navigation as analogous to spatial navigation. One alternative for shopping-specific interfaces is to create discrete virtual three-dimensional (3D) Euclidian spaces for web navigation. Equivalent configural spatial knowledge acquisition was obtained from searches in discrete HTML Euclidian environments and comparable desktop 3D virtual environments (Couture, Colle, & Reid, 2005, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction). However, between-store spatial knowledge was not optimal for both discrete HTML and continuous desktop virtual environments. Also, walking longer distances between stores is undesirable. These issues are addressed with two design options. In Experiment 1, better between-store spatial knowledge was acquired in linear and clustered arrangements of adjacent stores than with hallway travel between stores. In Experiment 2, map menu teleportation, selecting a store teleportation destination from a map menu, did not spatially disorient participants. Design implications for several domains were discussed.

Acknowledgments

We thank Jerritte Couture for his help with creating the HTML environments, and Alicia Tassos, Adam Moeller, Bradley Beck, and Christa Brown for help with testing participants, data coding, and analyzing data.