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

本合作研究项目聚焦于与寻路相关的问题，是地理信息科学与人类认知的交汇点。该研究解决了地理信息的口头和图像表示之间的关系问题，以及如何将这两种表示模式成功地集成到与用户相关的地理信息系统中。为了解决这个问题，构建了一个独立于具体模式的地理细节的内容和水平理论。本研究以地理信息的计算和认知理论为基础。其主要思想是，信息粒度理论可以强加于双模式信息的“规范模型”上，从而可以在细节和信息内容的层次之间进行模式间的比较和转换。在每一种语言和图像模式中应该呈现的细节水平，以及每种模式中细节水平之间的关系，是研究的重要领域。信息粒度理论应该符合人类的认知，而工作的主要部分将是通过对人类受试者进行一系列分级实验来测试该理论。该研究将通过构建示范移动“寻路助手”进行评估，该助手将使用口头和图像模式进行操作。这个项目的动机是在一个未知的城市中寻找道路，使用便携式，移动，数字寻路助手，具有两种交互模式，口头和图像，以及一些定位和方向功能。随着多媒体使用的增加，本研究将有助于制定有效呈现图像和语言空间信息的指导方针。该研究解决了一些基本问题，如：提供给用户的信息模式之间应该如何平衡？在每种模式中要表示的信息是互补的还是补充的？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？灵活切换模式的能力可能特别适合有感觉障碍的人，以及那些任务需要两种模式同时运行的人，或者那些需要在模式之间无缝切换的人（例如，车辆驾驶员必须从视觉显示切换到音频提示，因为需要将全部视觉注意力集中在交通状况上）。

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).