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Association between smartphone glances during application-based navigation and pedestrian navigation performance: a
Suguru Shimokihara1,2,3, Takayuki Tabira4, Yuriko Ikeda4
1Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Mhealth
|November 10, 2025
Summary
Frequent smartphone glances while walking negatively impact navigation performance. This suggests a need for alternative navigation systems to improve pedestrian efficiency and safety.
Area of Science:
- Human-computer interaction
- Mobility studies
- Gaze behavior analysis
Background:
- Smartphone adoption is increasing, enhancing outdoor mobility via navigation apps.
- Concerns exist regarding smartphone use while walking, but navigation performance and gaze behavior remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gaze behavior (smartphone glances) and navigation performance in adults using navigation apps while walking.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional experimental study with 33 healthy adults performing a 1,300m outdoor route navigation task.
- Eye-tracking recorded gaze behavior, including smartphone glances.
- Generalized linear models and bootstrap analysis examined the relationship between glances and navigation performance.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between the number of smartphone glances and increased stops and route errors.
- This association remained significant after bootstrap validation.
Conclusions:
- Frequent smartphone screen checking while walking with navigation apps can impair navigation performance.
- Alternative navigation systems not requiring screen interaction could enhance pedestrian safety and efficiency.
