Collaborative Research: Matching Levels of Detail in Descriptions and Depictions of Geographic Space

这个合作研究项目专注于与寻路相关的问题，处于地理信息科学和人类认知的交界处。这项研究解决了地理信息的语言和图像表示之间的关系，以及如何将这两种表示模式成功地集成到将地理信息与用户关联的系统中。为了解决这个问题，构建了一个独立于特定模式的内容和地理细节层次的理论。这项研究建立在地理信息的计算和认知理论基础上。其主要思想是，可以将信息粒度理论强加于双模式信息的“规范模型”，从而能够在细节级别和信息内容之间进行跨模式比较和转换。每种语言和图片模式中应呈现的详细程度，以及每种模式中详细程度之间的关系，都是重要的调查领域。信息粒度理论应该符合人类的认知，这项工作的主要部分将是通过一组分级的人类受试者实验来验证该理论。这项研究将通过构建一款示范的移动“寻路助手”进行评估，它将使用口头和图片两种模式操作。该项目的动机是在一个未知城市的寻路任务，使用便携式、移动、数字寻路助手，具有两种交互模式，口头和图片，以及一些定位和定向能力。随着多媒体应用的增多，这项研究将有助于制定有效呈现图画和言语空间信息的指导方针。这项研究解决了一些基本问题，例如：向用户提供信息的模式之间应该如何平衡？每种模式所代表的信息应该是互补的还是补充的？如果有必要“关闭”一种模式，如何才能在呈现相同级别的细节的情况下无缝地完成这一操作？灵活地在模式之间切换的能力可能特别适合具有感官障碍的个人，以及其任务需要两种模式同时操作的人，或者需要在模式之间无缝切换的人(例如，由于需要将全部视觉注意力集中在交通情况上，车辆驾驶员必须从视觉显示切换到音频提示)。

This collaborative research project focuses on issues related to wayfinding, and is at the interface of geographic information science and human cognition. The research addresses the questions of the relationship between verbal and pictorial representations of geographic information, and how both representation modes can be successfully integrated in systems relating geographic information to users. To address this question, a theory of content and level of geographic detail is constructed that is independent of specific mode. The research is founded upon computational and cognitive theories of geographic information. The main idea is that theories of information granularity can be imposed on a 'canonical model' of dual mode information, enabling inter-modal comparisons and transformations to be made between levels of detail and information content. The level of detail that should be presented in each of the verbal and pictorial modes, and relationships between levels of detail in each mode, are important areas of investigation. The theory of information granularity should accord with human cognition, and a major part of the work will be the testing of the theory by a graded set of experiments with human subjects. The research will be evaluated through the construction of a demonstrator mobile 'wayfinding assistant' that will operate using both verbal and pictorial modes.This project is motivated by the task of wayfinding in an unknown city, using a portable, mobile, digital wayfinding assistant, with two interaction modes, verbal and pictorial, and some locational and directional capabilities. With increasing use of multimedia, this research will help to formulate guidelines for effective presentation of pictoral and verbal spatial information. The research addresses fundamental questions such as: What should be the balance between modes of information supplied to the user? Should the information to be represented in each mode be complementary or supplementary? If it is necessary to 'switch off' a mode, how can this be done seamlessly, with the same level of detail presented? The ability to change flexibly between modalities may be especially appropriate for individuals with sensory impairments, as well as those whose tasks require both modes operating simultaneously, or those who need to switch seamlessly between modes (e.g. a driver of a vehicle who must switch from a visual display to audio cues because of the need to concentrate full visual attention on a traffic situation).