Registration errors in beacon-based navigation guidance systems: Influences on path efficiency and user reliance

Abstract

Emerging augmented reality displays provide high fidelity overlays onto real-world environments to enable navigation efficiency. The accuracy of these systems, however, is highly contingent on monitoring and registering user orientations and landmark locations. No data exist, however, regarding ranges at which registration error reliably influences user behavior and trust. The present experiments examined the influence of directional error in a simulated navigation guidance system on path efficiency and user trust. In three experiments, participants (N = 90) navigated an urban desktop virtual environment with the assistance of an overlaid beacon depicting the direction and distance of a target landmark. Directional error was introduced into the beacon across trials, manipulated in 15° increments from 0° to 60° (Experiment 1), 5° increments from 0° to 20° (Experiment 2), and 1° increments from 6° to 10° (Experiment 3). Users show tolerance for up to approximately 8° angular direction error without significantly reducing path efficiency or user trust in system reliability. They also show reduced path efficiency emerging at lower angular errors (approximately 9°) relative to influences on perceived trust (approximately 16-20°). Results provide some basic heuristics for error tolerance, demonstrate important dissociations between the objective versus perceived impact of error in navigation displays, and contribute to theoretical positions regarding the optimization of global awareness and spatial knowledge acquisition.

Spatial decision dynamics during wayfinding: intersections prompt the decision-making process

“…The present results can be applied to the development of beacon-based navigation systems in three primary ways. First, we demonstrate that visual beacons can be used to guide efficient navigation through dense urban virtual environments, suggesting future potential for these systems (Brunyé et al, 2016 a; Loomis, Golledge, & Klatzky, 1998 ). Second, pedestrians seem to rely upon these systems during the approach to an intersection, suggesting that adaptive future systems would find value in portraying beacons before pedestrians arrive in an intersection, affording them the opportunity to plan maneuvers in advance.…”

“…This is due to both the theoretical implications for models of wayfinding and spatial decision-making and for establishing principles for the portrayal of next-generation navigation guidance (Cosgun, Sisbot, & Christensen, 2014 ; Hwang & Ryu, 2010 ; Van Erp, Van Veen, Jansen, & Dobbins, 2005 ). For instance, beacon-based navigation aids can provide pedestrians information regarding the general direction and distance to a waypoint, efficiently guiding them to a destination without the attention and memory disadvantages of turn-by-turn guidance (Brunyé, Moran, Houck, Taylor, & Mahoney, 2016 a; Gardony, Brunyé, & Taylor, 2015 ). A beacon is a landmark or device that marks a fixed location (e.g.…”

“…These limitations have encouraged research and development toward identifying novel methods for guiding pedestrian navigation through complex environments. For instance, beacon-based visual navigation aids can show the general direction and distance to a destination, without providing explicit instructions on which routes to take (Brunyé et al, 2016 a). In a series of virtual environment navigation experiments, we previously demonstrated the utility of a floating beacon overlaid onto a virtual scene, showing the direction and distance to a goal destination (Brunyé et al, 2016 a).…”

“…For instance, beacon-based visual navigation aids can show the general direction and distance to a destination, without providing explicit instructions on which routes to take (Brunyé et al, 2016 a). In a series of virtual environment navigation experiments, we previously demonstrated the utility of a floating beacon overlaid onto a virtual scene, showing the direction and distance to a goal destination (Brunyé et al, 2016 a). In that work, the accuracy of beacon registration predicted the extent to which the beacon increased path efficiency and trust in the system.…”

Feedback and Direction Sources Influence Navigation Decision Making on Experienced Routes

“…Obviously, problems arise when the route directions provided by GPS are incorrect. Research suggests that when automation systems make increasing mistakes, users would abandon the system and turn to their own knowledge (Lee and Moray, 1994; Brunyé et al, 2016; Chavaillaz et al, 2016).…”