Small details: using one device to navigate together

We present results from a study examining the sensitivity of group navigation strategies to changes in route presentation on a shared mobile device. Two content-equivalent interfaces are compared. An interface providing textual instructions linked to regions on a route map yields reliance on text primarily, encouraging route planning and a divideand-conquer strategy we term `navigator and scout'. An interface combining text instructions with map segments on individual pages yields less planning, still permits nav/scout, and sees an increase in an ad-hoc `sync and go' strategy involving more gathering around the device. Finally, when the route map is used without text, the frequency of the nav/scout strategy drops markedly as sync and go increases. Author Keywords Mobile maps, group navigation, sharing mobile phones. ACM Classification Keywords H5.3. [Information interfaces and presentation]: Group and Organization Interfaces---Collaborative computing.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: CSCW
• Authors: Derek F. Reilly, Bonnie MacKay, Carolyn R. Watters, Kori M. Inkpen
• Keywords: CSCW 2008, Group Navigation, Route Map, Route Map Yields, Social Sciences