Objective versus Subjective Measures of Paris Metro Map Usability: Investigating Traditional Octolinear versus All-curves Schematic Maps Objective versus Subjective Measures of Paris Metro Map Usability: Investigating Traditional Octolinear versus All-curves Schematic Maps Objective versus Subjectiv

Schematic maps are an important component of assistance for navigating transport networks worldwide. By showing routes as simple straight lines, they reduce the cognitive load of journey planning, and by revealing the underlying structure of networks, they make their key features easier to identify and learn. However, although there are many suggestions for optimizing schematic maps so as to maximize these benefits, to date these have not been directly supported by published usability studies or psychological theory. In this paper, we suggest that there are circumstances in which conventional schematic maps fail to yield benefits, and we compare journey planning using the current official RATP Paris Metro map with an all-curves design which replaces straight lines and corners with gentle curves. Three separate usability studies with slightly different methodologies showed that the journey planning time for the all-curves map was better than the RATP version, with effect sizes ranging from 0.48 to 1.12. Subjective usability ratings were derived from questionnaires, and user preferences, but neither were correlated with objective usability measures. We conclude that (1) in terms of designing schematics, there is no evidence to suggest that any rule-set can be claimed to be a gold-standard, and it is important to match the design rules to the properties of the network, (2) in some circumstances, radical departures from traditional ideas can yield usability benefits, and (3) map usability appears to be distinct from map engagement, although the latter is undoubtedly important in encouraging people fully to make use of navigation aides.

[1]  D. Bartram,et al.  Comprehending spatial information: the relative efficiency of different methods of presenting information about bus routes. , 1980, The Journal of applied psychology.

[2]  M. Meo,et al.  Element salience as a predictor of item difficulty for Raven's Progressive Matrices , 2007 .

[3]  Janet Vertesi,et al.  Mind the Gap , 2008 .

[4]  Zhan Guo,et al.  Mind the Map Guo 1 Mind the Map ! The Impact of Transit Maps on Travel Decisions in Public Transit , 2010 .

[5]  Julia Mueller,et al.  Can science account for taste? Psychological insights into art appreciation , 2011 .

[6]  Alexander Wolff,et al.  Drawing and Labeling High-Quality Metro Maps by Mixed-Integer Programming , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.

[7]  Maxwell J Roberts,et al.  Categorical Reasoning from Multiple Diagrams , 2005, The Quarterly journal of experimental psychology. A, Human experimental psychology.

[8]  Bettina Berendt,et al.  Spatial Thinking with Geographic Maps: An Empirical Sstudy , 1997, Herausforderungen an die Wissensorganisation.

[9]  P B Everett,et al.  TRANSIT ROUTE PAMPHLETS: DO THEY WORK? , 1977 .

[10]  M A Just,et al.  From the SelectedWorks of Marcel Adam Just 1990 What one intelligence test measures : A theoretical account of the processing in the Raven Progressive Matrices Test , 2016 .

[11]  Stephen G. Walker,et al.  Automatic Metro Map Layout Using Multicriteria Optimization , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.

[12]  K. Stanovich,et al.  Cognitive Ability and Variation in Selection Task Performance , 1998 .

[13]  Lorenz Hurni,et al.  On the Design of Schematic Transport Maps , 2006, Cartogr. Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Geovisualization.

[14]  Diane J. Schiano,et al.  Structure and strategy in encoding simplified graphs , 1992, Memory & cognition.

[15]  Daniel R. Montello,et al.  Cognitive Map-Design Research in the Twentieth Century: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches , 2002 .

[16]  Maxwell J. Roberts.  Underground Maps Unravelled - Explorations in Information Design , 2012 .

[17]  Seok-Hee Hong,et al.  Automatic visualisation of metro maps , 2006, J. Vis. Lang. Comput..

[18]  Alexander Wolff,et al.  Drawing Metro Maps Using Bézier Curves , 2012, GD.

[19]  C. Freksa.  SPATIAL ASPECTS OF TASK-SPECIFIC WAYFINDING MAPS A representation-theoretic perspective , 1999 .

[20]  Richard J. Phillips,et al.  An experimental approach to the design of cartographic symbols , 1990 .

[21]  R. Phillips,et al.  An Investigation of Visual Clutter in the Topographic Base of a Geological Map , 1982 .

[22]  Paul J. Feltovich,et al.  Categorization and Representation of Physics Problems by Experts and Novices , 1981, Cogn. Sci..

[23]  Diane J. Schiano,et al.  Perceptual and conceptual factors in distortions in memory for graphs and maps. , 1989, Journal of experimental psychology. General.

[24]  Mark Ovenden,et al.  Metro Maps of the World , 2003 .

[25]  K. Stanovich,et al.  Heuristics and Biases: Individual Differences in Reasoning: Implications for the Rationality Debate? , 2002 .

[26]  Daniel R. Montello,et al.  Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Turn Direction Concepts , 2007, COSIT.

[27]  André Vandierendonck,et al.  Adaptive strategy application in linear reasoning , 2004 .

[28]  Maxwell J. Roberts,et al.  Individual Differences in the Development of Reasoning Strategies , 2005 .

[29]  Paul U. Lee,et al.  Pictorial and Verbal Tools for Conveying Routes , 1999, COSIT.

[30]  Arline L. Bronzaft,et al.  Improving Transit Information Systems , 1983 .

[31]  Alexander Wolff,et al.  Drawing Subway Maps: A Survey , 2007, Informatik - Forschung und Entwicklung.

[32]  Keith E. Stanovich,et al.  Individual differences in rational thought. , 1998 .

[33]  Maxwell J. Roberts,et al.  Context, visual salience, and inductive reasoning , 2000 .

[34]  Arline L. Bronzaft,et al.  Spatial Orientation in a Subway System , 1976 .

[35]  Peter B. Lloyd,et al.  Paris Metro Style: In Map and Station Design , 2008 .

[36]  Paul J. Silvia,et al.  Do People Prefer Curved Objects? Angularity, Expertise, and Aesthetic Preference , 2009 .

[37]  Thomas T. Warner,et al.  Desert Meteorology: Maps of the world , 2004 .

[38]  J. Raven,et al.  Manual for Raven's progressive matrices and Mill Hill vocabulary scales , 1981 .

[39]  Barbara Tversky,et al.  Animation: can it facilitate? , 2002, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[40]  Maxwell J Roberts,et al.  Explaining inappropriate strategy selection in a simple reasoning task. , 2007, British journal of psychology.

[41]  Silvania Avelar.  Convergence Analysis and Quality Criteria for an Iterative Schematization of Networks , 2007, GeoInformatica.

[42]  Zhan Guo,et al.  Assessing the cost of transfer inconvenience in public transport systems: A case study of the London Underground , 2011 .

[43]  Maxwell J. Roberts,et al.  Methods of thought : individual differences in reasoning strategies , 2004 .