Move to improve: promoting physical navigation to increase user performance with large displays

In navigating large information spaces, previous work indicates potential advantages of physical navigation (moving eyes, head, body) over virtual navigation (zooming, panning, flying). However, there is also indication of users preferring or settling into the less efficient virtual navigation. We present a study that examines these issues in the context of large, high resolution displays. The study identifies specific relationships between display size, amount of physical and virtual navigation, and user task performance. Increased physical navigation on larger displays correlates with reduced virtual navigation and improved user performance. Analyzing the differences between this study and previous results helps to identify design factors that afford and promote the use of physical navigation in the user interface. Author Keywords large displays, physical navigation, virtual navigation, embodied interaction. ACM Classification Keywords H5.m. Information interfaces and presentation (...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Robert Ball, Chris North, Doug A. Bowman
• Keywords: CHI 2007, Efficient Virtual Navigation, Human Computer Interaction, Physical Navigation, Virtual Navigation