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Stefano Burigat and Luca Chittaro
• User’s mobility affects the design of applications; factors such as user’s speed,
different and changing activities, distractions, device autonomy, and environmental conditions (e.g. weather, lighting, traffic) must be taken into consideration. Moreover, users are typically involved in other tasks in the field and cannot
focus their attention primarily on the mobile device.
• Mobile phones are used by a larger population than traditional computers. Therefore, usability, which has already proven to be an important factor for the acceptance of desktop applications by final users, becomes even more important in
mobile applications.
However, the power of mobile graphics hardware is increasing and this makes it
possible to provide users on the move with more sophisticated and flexible visualizations [11]. In the following sections, we will survey research that has investigated the
visualization of geographical data on mobile devices. Indeed, a wide range of user’s
activities in the field depends on obtaining and exploiting data on the geographical
area where users are located. We will first deal with research on map visualization,
since maps are the most commonly used means to provide users with geographical
information on an area, thus representing a key building block for applications that
aim at supporting users in the field. Then, we will focus on more specific topics,
concerning navigation of a geographical area and the support of user’s decisions in
the field.
12.2 Map Visualization on Mobile Devices
In recent years, research on geographical data visualization on mobile devices has
mainly focused on how to best represent and interact with maps on small displays.
Indeed, maps are the most efficient and effective means to communicate spatial information [23]. They simplify the localization of geographical objects, reveal spatial
relations and patterns, and provide useful orientation information in the field.
As highlighted in Sect. 12.1, using maps on small displays differs from using
paper maps in a mobile setting or viewing maps on a desktop computer. This motivated researchers to propose various solutions for the adaptation of map contents for
mobile scenarios. In particular, since a map is always strongly related to the context
of its use, various contextual elements (e.g. user, location, task, device) have been
considered to perform the adaptation so that users could get what is most suitable for
their needs.
For example, Fig. 12.1 shows a detailed map of an area of the city of Munich (on
the left) and the same map adapted for a specific mobile scenario (on the right). The
adapted map provides the users with information on the route to follow to reach their
hotel from their current position near a pub, passing nearby a shopping area they
are interested in (identified with the shopping cart icon). Only relevant information
along the route, such as street names and points of interest (POIs), is highlighted and
the map has been rotated to be oriented in the main direction of the route.
Stefano Burigat and Luca Chittaro
• User’s mobility affects the design of applications; factors such as user’s speed,
different and changing activities, distractions, device autonomy, and environmental conditions (e.g. weather, lighting, traffic) must be taken into consideration. Moreover, users are typically involved in other tasks in the field and cannot
focus their attention primarily on the mobile device.
• Mobile phones are used by a larger population than traditional computers. Therefore, usability, which has already proven to be an important factor for the acceptance of desktop applications by final users, becomes even more important in
mobile applications.
However, the power of mobile graphics hardware is increasing and this makes it
possible to provide users on the move with more sophisticated and flexible visualizations [11]. In the following sections, we will survey research that has investigated the
visualization of geographical data on mobile devices. Indeed, a wide range of user’s
activities in the field depends on obtaining and exploiting data on the geographical
area where users are located. We will first deal with research on map visualization,
since maps are the most commonly used means to provide users with geographical
information on an area, thus representing a key building block for applications that
aim at supporting users in the field. Then, we will focus on more specific topics,
concerning navigation of a geographical area and the support of user’s decisions in
the field.
12.2 Map Visualization on Mobile Devices
In recent years, research on geographical data visualization on mobile devices has
mainly focused on how to best represent and interact with maps on small displays.
Indeed, maps are the most efficient and effective means to communicate spatial information [23]. They simplify the localization of geographical objects, reveal spatial
relations and patterns, and provide useful orientation information in the field.
As highlighted in Sect. 12.1, using maps on small displays differs from using
paper maps in a mobile setting or viewing maps on a desktop computer. This motivated researchers to propose various solutions for the adaptation of map contents for
mobile scenarios. In particular, since a map is always strongly related to the context
of its use, various contextual elements (e.g. user, location, task, device) have been
considered to perform the adaptation so that users could get what is most suitable for
their needs.
For example, Fig. 12.1 shows a detailed map of an area of the city of Munich (on
the left) and the same map adapted for a specific mobile scenario (on the right). The
adapted map provides the users with information on the route to follow to reach their
hotel from their current position near a pub, passing nearby a shopping area they
are interested in (identified with the shopping cart icon). Only relevant information
along the route, such as street names and points of interest (POIs), is highlighted and
the map has been rotated to be oriented in the main direction of the route.