- PDF online
- Summary: OSU Design and Human Environment professor used our building to study wayfinding in a library context. The study focused on wayfinding behavior and performance while using an interactive map on a mobile device, but it inevitably led to some secondary observations about wayfinding issues in our building.
- Methodology: 8 participants (7 grad students and a faculty member) completed a wayfinding test of 4 tasks, using an interactive map to get from one point to another within the building. Their eye movements were tracked with special glasses.
- A survey was also conducted but not discussed in depth here. One interesting finding: "participants rarely mention the help of physical wayfinding resources such as signs and directories" while mentioning library staff help more frequently.
- Useful points from the lit review:
- It's important to identify and pay special attention to high-traffic areas in order to arrange wayfinding resources effectively in the environment.
- 3 critical environmental aspects that impact wayfinding: visibility, layout complexity (total number of intersections and the connected paths in between), and connectivity ("axial links")
- Importance of directories in entrance and exit areas. (Besides what's on the lobby kiosk we don't really have one near the entrance.)
- Findings:
- Hesitation happens at major decision points in the route.
- Interactive map design must address the usability issues related to IT literacy, indoor sense of direction.
- "When areas are open to the public but look exclusive to certain people, signs may be needed to clarify."
- "For rooms that are located further back and hidden, signs protruding from the wall may help."
- interactive map of the Valley Library developed for the study
- Abstract/Overview of Wayfinding in the Library presentation by Dr. Lee in 2014 at a conference that describes the observation and survey components
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