ABSTRACT

Maps based on virtual reality (VR) are evolving and are being increasingly used in the field of geography. However, the advantages of VR based on the map use processes of users over desktop-based environments (DEs) are not fully understood. In this study, an experiment was conducted in which 120 participants performed map use tasks using maps and globes in VR and DE. The participants’ eye movements and questionnaires were collected to compare the map use performance differences. We analyzed the general metrics, information searching and processing metrics of participants (e.g. response time, RT; average fixation duration, AFD; average saccade duration, ASD; saccade frequency, SF, etc.) using maps and globes in different environments. We found that the participants using VR processed information more efficiently (AFD_DE = 233.34 ms, AFD_VR = 173.09 ms), and the participants using DE had both a significantly shorter response time (RT_DE = 88.68 s, RT_VR = 124.05 s) and a shorter visual search time (ASD_DE = 60.78 ms, ASD_VR = 112.13 ms; SF_DE = 6.30, SF_VR = 2.07). We also found similarities in accuracy, satisfaction and readability. These results are helpful for designing VR maps that can adapt to human cognition and reflect the advantages of VR.

基于虚拟现实（VR）的地图正在不断发展，并在地理领域中得到越来越多的使用。但是，与基于桌面的环境（DE）相比，基于用户的地图使用过程的VR的优势尚未完全了解。在这项研究中，进行了一项实验，其中120名参与者使用VR和DE中的地图和地球仪执行了地图使用任务。收集参与者的眼球运动和问卷以比较地图使用性能差异。我们使用不同环境中的地图和地球仪分析了参与者的一般指标，信息搜索和处理指标（例如，响应时间，RT，平均注视时间，AFD，平均扫视时间，ASD，扫视频率，SF等）。我们发现使用VR的参与者可以更有效地处理信息（AFD _DE = 233.34毫秒，AFD _VR  = 173.09毫秒），使用DE的参与者的响应时间都显着缩短（RT _DE  = 88.68 s，RT _VR  = 124.05 s），视觉搜索时间也较短（ASD _DE  = 60.78 ms，ASD _VR  = 112.13 ms； SF _DE  = 6.30，SF _VR  = 2.07）。我们还发现了准确性，满意度和可读性方面的相似之处。这些结果对于设计可适应人类认知并反映VR优势的VR地图很有帮助。