Impact of AR Navigation Display Methods on Wayfinding Performance and Spatial Knowledge Acquisition

Abstract

With the development of augmented reality (AR) technology, AR navigation tools have gradually received increasing attention. Few previous studies have comprehensively discussed the advantages and disadvantages of AR and 2D maps from a spatial cognition perspective. Through three experiments, this article investigated the effects of different AR navigation display methods on wayfinding performance and spatial knowledge acquisition. First, we compared participants’ performances in using AR and 2D map navigation aids for wayfinding and spatial knowledge tasks. Second, we developed a combined map and compared the usability of this map with that of an AR map. Then, we applied the focus + context technique to improve the combined map’s minimap and verified the improved map’s effectiveness by laboratory simulation. The AR map is superior to the 2D map in acquiring spatial knowledge. AR displays are crucial for helping individuals acquire landmark and route knowledge. The improved map expands the range of exocentric spatial information and highlights the landmark locations to provide comprehensive information about the environment; thus, the improved map can further assist in acquiring spatial knowledge.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation of the National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, Grant No. 6142222210103. Space Medical Experiment Project of China Manned Space Program [HYZHXM3001]. Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province under Grant No. LQ19C090008. Student Affairs Project of Zhejiang University of Technology Research Foundation (Grant No. GZ22641090016).

Notes on contributors

Xiaohe Qiu

Xiaohe Qiu is a teaching assistant at the College of Science, Zhejiang University of Technology. His research interests include human–computer interaction, human factors, user experience, and spatial cognition.

Zhen Yang

Zhen Yang is an associate professor at the Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. His research interests include human–computer interaction, human factors, user experience, cognitive science, and neuro-ergonomics.

Jinxing Yang

Jinxing Yang is a graduate student at the Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. Her research interests include human–computer interaction and user experience.

Qijun Wang

Qijun Wang is an instructor at the Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. Her research interests include human–computer interaction and user experience, focusing mainly on eye-based computer interaction, information display and affordance, and intuitive design.

Duming Wang

Duming Wang is an associate professor at the Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. His research interests include human–computer interaction, human factors, and user experience.