Experimental Study on Verbal Indoor Wayfinding Support

Abstract

Wayfinding in large indoor spaces is challenging for the limited views the wayfinder has. Verbal indoor wayfinding assistance converts the weakness into an advantage: This experimental study investigates whether such a conversation-based approach based on what is in view can lead to successful wayfinding in complex indoor environments. The findings of this experimental study indicate that by using verbal guidance people can arrive at their destination successfully without experiencing ambiguity of decisions and hesitation of decision-making time, nuanced by a set of environmental and personal attributes. These attributes are captured by variables including the route instruction grammar, familiarity with the environment, and configurational information.