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

这个合作研究项目的重点是与寻路相关的问题，是地理信息科学和人类认知的接口。该研究解决了地理信息的口头和图形表示之间的关系，以及如何这两种表示模式可以成功地集成在系统中的地理信息用户的问题。 为了解决这个问题，一个理论的内容和地理细节的水平是独立于特定的模式。该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，信息粒度的理论可以施加在一个“规范模型”的双模信息，使模态间的比较和转换的细节和信息内容的水平之间。每种语言和图像模式中应呈现的细节水平以及每种模式中细节水平之间的关系是重要的研究领域。 信息粒度理论应符合人类认知的雅阁，而通过一系列人类实验对该理论进行检验将是本文的主要工作。该研究将通过一个演示移动的“寻路助手”，将使用口头和图片模式进行评估。该项目的动机是在一个未知的城市寻路的任务，使用便携式，移动的，数字寻路助手，两种互动模式，口头和图片，以及一些位置和方向的能力。 随着多媒体的使用越来越多，本研究将有助于制定指导方针，有效地呈现图片和文字的空间信息。研究解决的基本问题，如：应该是什么样的模式之间的平衡提供给用户的信息？每种模式所代表的信息是补充性的还是补充性的？如果有必要“关闭”一种模式，如何在呈现相同细节水平的情况下无缝地完成？在模态之间灵活改变的能力可能特别适合于具有感觉障碍的个体，以及其任务需要两种模式同时操作的个体，或者需要在模式之间无缝切换的个体（例如，由于需要将全部视觉注意力集中在交通状况上而必须从视觉显示切换到音频提示的车辆驾驶员）。

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).