Use of auditory cues for wayfinding assistance in virtual environment: music aids route decision

This paper addresses the crucial problem of wayfinding assistance in the Virtual Environments (VEs). A number of navigation aids such as maps, agents, trails and acoustic landmarks are available to support the user for navigation in VEs, however it is evident that most of the aids are visually dominated. This work-in-progress describes a sound based approach that intends to assist the task of 'route decision' during navigation in a VE using music. Furthermore, with use of musical sounds it aims to reduce the cognitive load associated with other visually as well as physically dominated tasks. To achieve these goals, the approach exploits the benefits provided by music to ease and enhance the task of wayfinding, whilst making the user experience in the VE smooth and enjoyable.

Using technology to overcome the tyranny of space: information provision and wayfinding.

Urban wayfinding technology offers many possibilities by which older people and mobility-impaired users can overcome the barriers encountered on every-day journeys in the built environment. Previous work has highlighted the extent to which personal mobility and independence are significant determinants of the quality of life amongst both elderly and visually impaired groups. The paper outlines the development of the auditory location finder (ALF), which is a beacon-based local information system designed to enhance the wayfinding activities of these, and potentially other, user-groups in the community. The proposed system provides the user with an audio message, which is obtained on request via a small portable hand unit. The messages inform the user of their whereabouts and give information about the area that they are currently in. The development of the device involves issues such as message content and structure, route choice, orientation, landmarks, clues and the extent of user reliance on technology. Preliminary trials have been carried out in a UK city and have obtained initial user feedback to help underpin the technological development of the device and its potential application. The paper concludes by outlining the importance of new urban technology and the way in which such local information systems can potentially contribute to overcoming particular patterns of exclusion experienced by mobility-impaired groups, such as the visually impaired

Desafios da Arquitetura da Informação Pervasiva: reduzindo a desorientação, aumentando a legibilidade e wayfinding

Diante das preocupações da Ciência da Informação (CI) com os processos de tratamento da informação, constatou-se a importância da condução de estudos que auxiliem o desenvolvimento de processos e metodologias em ambientes informacionais híbridos. A partir deste pensamento, considera-se que a Arquitetura Informacional pervasiva proposta por Resmini e Rosati é um desses recursos. Assim, esta pesquisa objetivou avaliar, através da aplicação das heurísticas propostas por esses autores, os ambientes informacionais físicos e digitais do Programa de Incubação de Empresas (PROINE) da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), analisando de que forma esse instrumento contribui para a construção de espaços informacionais híbridos que maximizem a experiência do usuário (UX). Aplicou-se metodologias de desenvolvimento e avaliação de ambientes digitais e realizou-se a aplicação das heurísticas propostas por Resmini e Rosati possibilitando avaliar ambos ambientes através de diferentes canais informacionais. Destaca-se que a avaliação dos ambientes informacionais físico e digital, com a utilização de metodologias de apoio, permitiu que se realizasse as conexões com as heurísticas, justamente pelo grau de complexidade apresentado por estes princípios. Este é o ponto chave e principal objetivo alcançado, possibilitando apontar as falhas e realizar inferências para maximizar a UX na utilização dos canais informacionais avaliados.

Employee perceived workplace stress : examining core self-evaluations, political skill, coping strategies and support

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How burned out employees perceive work stress and organisational burnout

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