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Age differences in the interpretation of misaligned "You-Are-Here" maps
J B Aubrey1, K Z Li, A R Dobbs
1Department of Psychology, Trent University, Ontario.
Journal of Gerontology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Orientation matters for "You-Are-Here" (YAH) maps. Misaligned maps, especially for older adults, significantly impair navigation accuracy and decision-making time.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cognitive Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- "You-Are-Here" (YAH) maps are prevalent in navigational aids within complex environments.
- Map orientation incongruent with the user's perspective can hinder effective wayfinding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of map orientation on directional decision-making.
- To compare the performance of younger and older adults with aligned versus contra-aligned YAH maps.
Main Methods:
- Participants (younger and older adults) made directional decisions using simplified campus maps.
- YAH map arrows were presented either upright (aligned) or 180 degrees (contra-aligned) relative to the viewer's position.
- Navigation accuracy and decision time were recorded for each condition.
Main Results:
- Contra-aligned maps significantly increased decision time and reduced accuracy, particularly for older adults.
- Women exhibited slower performance on contra-aligned maps compared to men, though accuracy was unaffected.
- Older adults experienced greater difficulty mentally realigning contra-aligned maps.
Conclusions:
- Map orientation is a critical design factor for YAH maps.
- Contra-alignment poses significant navigational challenges, especially for older adults in complex environments.
- Designers should prioritize map alignment to improve user experience and accessibility.