ABSTRACT

Augmented reality (AR) navigation aids have become widely used in pedestrian navigation, yet few studies have verified their usability from the perspective of human spatial cognition, such as visual attention, cognitive processing, and spatial memory. We conducted an empirical study in which smartphone-based AR aids were compared with a common two-dimensional (2D) electronic map. We conducted eye-tracking wayfinding experiments, in which 73 participants used either a 2D electronic map or AR navigation aids. We statistically compared participants’ wayfinding performance, visual attention, and route memory between two groups (AR and 2D map navigation aids). The results showed their wayfinding performance did not differ significantly. Regarding visual attention, the participants using AR tended to have significantly shorter fixation durations, greater saccade amplitudes, and smaller pupil sizes on average than the 2D map participants, which indicates lower average cognitive workloads throughout the wayfinding process. Considering attention on environmental objects, the participants using AR paid less visual attention to buildings but more to persons than the participants using 2D maps. Sketched routes results revealed that it was more difficult for AR participants to form a clear memory of the route. The aim of this study is to inspire more usability research on AR navigation.

摘要

增强现实（AR）导航辅助工具已在行人导航中得到广泛使用，但是很少有研究从诸如视觉注意力，认知处理和空间记忆等人类空间认知的角度验证其可用性。我们进行了一项实证研究，将基于智能手机的AR辅助工具与常见的二维（2D）电子地图进行了比较。我们进行了眼球追踪寻路实验，其中73位参与者使用了2D电子地图或AR导航辅助工具。我们对两组参与者（AR和2D地图导航辅助工具）之间的寻路性能，视觉注意力和路线记忆进行了统计比较。结果表明，他们的寻路性能没有显着差异。关于视觉注意力，使用AR的参与者倾向于缩短注视时间，与2D地图参与者相比，扫视幅度更大，平均瞳孔尺寸更小，这表明在整个寻路过程中平均认知工作量较低。考虑到对环境物体的关注，与使用2D地图的参与者相比，使用AR的参与者对建筑物的视觉关注较少，而对人的关注更多。草绘的路线结果显示，AR参与者更难以形成清晰的路线记忆。这项研究的目的是激发关于AR导航的更多可用性研究。与使用2D地图的参与者相比，使用AR的参与者对建筑物的视觉关注较少，而对人的关注更多。草绘的路线结果显示，AR参与者更难以形成清晰的路线记忆。这项研究的目的是激发关于AR导航的更多可用性研究。与使用2D地图的参与者相比，使用AR的参与者对建筑物的视觉关注较少，而对人的关注更多。草绘的路线结果显示，AR参与者更难以形成清晰的路线记忆。这项研究的目的是激发关于AR导航的更多可用性研究。