Spatial Querying of Geographical Data with Pen-Input Scopes

Abstract

Querying geographical data on map applications running on touch devices is mainly performed by typing queries using virtual keyboards. Some of those devices are additionally equipped with styli to facilitate freehand sketching and annotating. As shown by prior work, such hand-drawn sketches can also be used for intuitive and effective spatial querying of geographical data. Building on that groundwork, we present a set of pen-based techniques to selectively convert map annotations into spatial queries with implicitly or explicitly specified scopes. We show how those techniques can be used for trip-planning tasks involving route-finding and searching of points of interest. In a controlled user study comparing the usability and efficiency of the techniques for different querying patterns, we establish participants' general preference for explicit input scopes and obtain indications that, provided handwriting is correctly recognised, input times are comparable to that of a standard (soft) keyboard-based interface. Based on those results and participant feedback, we propose a number of enhancements and extensions to inform the design of future penbased map applications.