Lost in navigation: evaluating a mobile map app for a fair

This paper describes a field study evaluating a mobile map application for the Paris Air Show. The aim of the study was to investigate how well users can navigate (to static and moving targets) and orient themselves in a fair (an unknown environment posing realistic challenges for wayfinding) with a mobile map system. The study involved 14 fair visitors who carried out three navigation tasks, which required them to switch between map navigation and deciding upon their orientation in the physical environment. Our results indicate that navigation and orientation are not as tightly coupled as described in the traditional wayfinding literature and may require different modality approaches to optimally support users. Based on this, we draw design implications on how to balance supporting the user in navigation and orientation with mobile systems without diminishing users' awareness of their surroundings.