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...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-12-01
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Series: | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:33:27Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-aa7bb7bee5584764acd8bc79b2f9d750 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2220-9964 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:33:27Z |
publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
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 |