Where do we go from here? An assessment of navigation performance using a compass versus a GPS unit

Authors:
Mark S. Young;Neville A. Stanton;Guy H. Walker;Daniel P. Jenkins;Wes Smart
Affiliations:
School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Ergonomics Research Group, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Ergonomics Research Group, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Ergonomics Research Group, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Ergonomics Research Group, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK;School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Ergonomics Research Group, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK
Venue:
Cognition, Technology and Work - Special Issue on Human Factors Integration in Defense
Year:
2008

Citing 0
Cited 2

RACE: Towards Exploring the Design Dimensions of a Route Assisting and Communicating System for Elderly

UAHCI '09 Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Addressing Diversity. Part I: Held as Part of HCI International 2009
Navigation your way: from spontaneous independent exploration to dynamic social journeys

Personal and Ubiquitous Computing

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.01

Visualization

Abstract

The Global Positioning System (GPS) looks set to replace the traditional map and compass for navigation tasks in military and civil domains. However, we may ask whether GPS has a real performance advantage over traditional methods. We present an exploratory study using a waypoint-plotting task to compare the standard magnetic compass against a military GPS unit, for both expert and non-expert navigators. Whilst performance times were generally longer in setting up the GPS unit, once navigation was underway the GPS was more efficient than the compass. For medium- to long-term missions, this means that GPS could offer significant performance benefits, although the compass remains superior for shorter missions. Notwithstanding the performance times, significantly more errors, and more serious errors, occurred when using the compass. Overall, then, the GPS offers some clear advantages, especially for non-expert users. Nonetheless, concerns over the development of cognitive maps remain when using GPS technologies.