Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments

Users more easily become lost in complex indoor environments than in outdoor environments. Users with diverse backgrounds encounter different self-location, route memorization, and route following problems during wayfinding. This study intends to explore gender and age effects on the use of indoor m...

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Main Authors: Chengshun Wang, Yufen Chen, Shulei Zheng, Hua Liao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
Series:ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/8/1/11
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author Chengshun Wang
Yufen Chen
Shulei Zheng
Hua Liao
author_facet Chengshun Wang
Yufen Chen
Shulei Zheng
Hua Liao
author_sort Chengshun Wang
collection DOAJ
description Users more easily become lost in complex indoor environments than in outdoor environments. Users with diverse backgrounds encounter different self-location, route memorization, and route following problems during wayfinding. This study intends to explore gender and age effects on the use of indoor maps for wayfinding in real environments. We used eye-tracking and retrospective verbal protocol methods to conduct a wayfinding experiment in a newly opened building. Statistical data were collected and three findings were obtained. Finding 1: Males had no significant differences with females in indoor self-location, route reading, and route following. However, males paid less visual attention to the landmark and legend than females during route reading. Finding 2: Age-related differences were significant in indoor wayfinding. Younger adults generally outperformed elderly adults in wayfinding in real indoor environments. Finding 3: Gender and age interactive effects were significant in self-location and route memorization. The mean differences of visual attention on the self-location map reading and route memorization between males and females increased with age.
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spelling doaj.art-aa7bb7bee5584764acd8bc79b2f9d7502022-12-22T00:42:55ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642018-12-01811110.3390/ijgi8010011ijgi8010011Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real EnvironmentsChengshun Wang0Yufen Chen1Shulei Zheng2Hua Liao3Zhengzhou Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Zhengzhou 450052, ChinaZhengzhou Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Zhengzhou 450052, ChinaZhengzhou Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Zhengzhou 450052, ChinaFaculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaUsers more easily become lost in complex indoor environments than in outdoor environments. Users with diverse backgrounds encounter different self-location, route memorization, and route following problems during wayfinding. This study intends to explore gender and age effects on the use of indoor maps for wayfinding in real environments. We used eye-tracking and retrospective verbal protocol methods to conduct a wayfinding experiment in a newly opened building. Statistical data were collected and three findings were obtained. Finding 1: Males had no significant differences with females in indoor self-location, route reading, and route following. However, males paid less visual attention to the landmark and legend than females during route reading. Finding 2: Age-related differences were significant in indoor wayfinding. Younger adults generally outperformed elderly adults in wayfinding in real indoor environments. Finding 3: Gender and age interactive effects were significant in self-location and route memorization. The mean differences of visual attention on the self-location map reading and route memorization between males and females increased with age.http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/8/1/11indoor wayfindingeye-trackinggender effectsage effectsretrospective verbal protocol
spellingShingle Chengshun Wang
Yufen Chen
Shulei Zheng
Hua Liao
Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
indoor wayfinding
eye-tracking
gender effects
age effects
retrospective verbal protocol
title Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
title_full Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
title_fullStr Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
title_full_unstemmed Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
title_short Gender and Age Differences in Using Indoor Maps for Wayfinding in Real Environments
title_sort gender and age differences in using indoor maps for wayfinding in real environments
topic indoor wayfinding
eye-tracking
gender effects
age effects
retrospective verbal protocol
url http://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/8/1/11
work_keys_str_mv AT chengshunwang genderandagedifferencesinusingindoormapsforwayfindinginrealenvironments
AT yufenchen genderandagedifferencesinusingindoormapsforwayfindinginrealenvironments
AT shuleizheng genderandagedifferencesinusingindoormapsforwayfindinginrealenvironments
AT hualiao genderandagedifferencesinusingindoormapsforwayfindinginrealenvironments