Navigating in a Virtual Environment With Map-Acquired Knowledge: Encoding and Alignment Effects

Abstract

When using topographical maps to orient in space, people as a rule make use of the alignment principle: Upward direction on the map is made to correspond with forward direction in the perceived environment. Violations of this principle (e.g., placing misaligned floorplans) have a negative impact on spatial-orientation performances. Using a method of simulated egomotions in a virtual environment, we examined the influence of misalignment on time-and space-extended navigations. Twenty volunteers were given maps with different orientations showing paths leading from a starting point to a goal point. The maps were either aligned (0°), misaligned by 90' or misaligned by 180' . Ten subjects drew (pictorial encoding condition) and 10 subjects verbally described (procedural encoding condition) the path and the objects encountered along it. Misalignment effects were expected for pictorial but not for procedural encoding. When subjects later navigated through the virtual environment under egomotion conditions, detrimental effects on speed and accuracy were observed as the degree of misalignment increased. However, no differences were found between the two encoding conditions.In order t o move around, people need accurate knowledge of the spatial relations i n their environment. In addition t o the ability t o acquire spatial knowledge by directly exploring environments, humans have developed a n impressive cognitive capacity t o acquire spatial knowledge by secondary means, such as miniature models, floorplans, and maps (Kinnear & Wood,

Between reality and imagination: When is spatial updating automatic?

“…Many studies of spatial representations and navigation used fictitious environments (e.g., Franklin & Tversky, 1990;Franklin, Tversky, & Coon, 1992;Taylor & Tversky, 1992, and more and more studies are using virtual reality techniques to investigate spatial cognition (e.g., Christou & Bülthoff, 1999;Decety & Jeannerod, 1995;Larish & Andersen, 1995;Mallot & Gillner, 2000;May, Peruch, & Savoyant, 1995;Peruch, Vercher, & Gauthier, 1995;Proffitt, Bhalla, Gossweiler, & Midgett, 1995). However, the present findings suggest that the mechanism of spatial updating depends on the nature of the environment.…”

Immersive virtual environment technology as a basic research tool in psychology

“…Spatial cognition research has already embraced VET (Chance, Gaunet, Beall, & Loomis, 1998;Darken & Sibert, 1996;Gillner & Mallot, 1998;Klatzky, Loomis, Beall, Chance, & Golledge, 1998;May, Peruch, & Savoyant, 1995;Pe ruch & Gaunet, 1998;Peruch, May, & Wartenberg. 1997;Peruch, Vercher, & Gauthier, 1995;Regian, Shebilske, & Monk, 1992;Richardson, Montello, & Hegarty, 1999;Rossano & Moak, 1998;Wilson, Foreman, Gillett, & Stanton, 1997;Witmer, Bailey, & Knerr, 1996).…”

Tele-experiments—experiments on spatial cognition using VRML-based multimedia

“…May, Péruch and Savoyant [8] use a virtual environment to study the influence of topographical map alignment on navigation. Darken and Silbert [2] conducted an experiment to determine whether people use physical world wayfinding strategies in large virtual worlds.…”