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The evolution of perspective view in WalkMap

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Abstract

A wearable computer is a potential platform for map applications: it is mobile in nature, and is often equipped with a head-worn display capable of displaying maps of the surrounding area in graphical form. In this paper, we present a map application, called WalkMap, developed for wearable computers. We concentrate on the visual presentation of the map, and propose a visualisation method that is based on the perspective distortion of a regular two-dimensional bird's-eye view map. We also describe the results of a field study, and compare the distorted view to a regular two-dimensional view. The results show that while a perspective visualisation is good for some navigational tasks, for some other tasks a regular map is preferred. We then continue by developing the visualisation further, and present a fully adjustable three-dimensional version of the map application, called WalkMap3D. WalkMap3D can display the map area in three dimensions, but is also capable of displaying both traditional two-dimensional and perspective map views.

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Abbreviations

GLU:

OpenGL Graphics System Utility Library

HWD:

Head Worn Display

LOD:

Level of Detail

VRML:

Virtual Reality Modelling Language

YAH:

You Are Here

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Tero Hakala, Mika Röykkee, Aino Ahtinen, Tomi Aarnio, Ilkka Salminen and Antti Aaltonen from the Nokia Research Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nokia Research Center, Tampere, Finland

    Riku Suomela, Kimmo Roimela & Juha Lehikoinen

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  1. Riku Suomela
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  2. Kimmo Roimela
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  3. Juha Lehikoinen
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Correspondence to Riku Suomela.

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Suomela, R., Roimela, K. & Lehikoinen, J. The evolution of perspective view in WalkMap. Pers Ubiquit Comput 7, 249–262 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-003-0244-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-003-0244-9

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