Designing interactions for navigation in 3D mobile maps

TLDR: This chapter analyses the problem of degrees of freedom: how to make navigation quicker and more intuitive by the means of restricting and guiding movement, yet enabling unrestricted access to all reasonable points-of-interests.

Abstract: Due to their intuitiveness, 3D mobile maps have recently emerged as an alternative to 2D mobile maps. However, designing interactions for navigation in a 3D environment using a mobile device is non-trivial. Challenges are posed by the severe limitations of the mobile user interface and of the capacities of the mobile user. This chapter analyses the problem of degrees of freedom: how to make navigation quicker and more intuitive by the means of restricting and guiding movement, yet enabling unrestricted access to all reasonable points-of-interests. Insights from empirical studies of mobile map interaction are presented, in the form of a model of interactive search, to draw requirements for interaction design. Then, the design of controls, landmarks, cameras, interest fields, routes, paths etc. are analysed and several higher-level navigation metaphors are discussed. We propose ways to support spatial updating, rapid alignment of physical and virtual spaces, and overcoming the keyhole problem. A working prototype system is used to illustrate different solutions alongside with alternative designs, weighing their pros and cons.