Navigation system usage
Passive navigation system usage can be defined as occasions where the system is turned on but with no active route or destination configured. In passive usage the system mainly provides a sense of orientation and situation awareness.
Active navigation system usage can be defined as occasions where the destination is entered. The system may provide routing advice, turn by turn guidance and traffic information.
Previous research has shown that although navigation system users frequently use their systems in an active manner when travelling in unfamiliar environments, there is a clear tendency to use the system actively less frequently when travelling in familiar environments (where drivers have the benefit of local knowledge).3 It has been argued that since most drivers travel through familiar environments most frequently,4 navigation system design should be optimised to support this.3
Figure 10 shows levels of system usage in unfamiliar travelling environments. As expected the majority of participants use their systems frequently in an active manner.
The results also suggest a tendency for novice navigation system users to utilise full system functionality more often than experts while travelling in unfamiliar environments. Novices (those who had been using their system for less than 12 months, and for whom the featured system was their first navigation system) used their systems in a passive manner significantly less often than experts. (p<0.04).
Figure 11 shows levels of system usage in familiar travelling environments. Clearly more participants engage in passive usage, and there is a tendency to engage in active usage less frequently.
During their introductory period, some authors suggested that a key advantage of navigation systems was that drivers would exploit their systems’ navigational efficiency by exploring and utilising unfamiliar routes more frequently.5 A Japanese study showed that navigation system users tended to use unfamiliar routes more often to avoid congested ones.6 Figure 12 shows that although most drivers in the present study reported no change in their exploration of unfamiliar areas since acquiring a navigation system, over a quarter of participants did report more frequent or much more frequent travel through unfamiliar environments. So it appears that some users are gaining the efficiency benefits that were originally conceived.
Some research suggests that navigation system usage may hinder the development of users’ cognitive maps.7 Cognitive maps are the method we use to structure and store spatial knowledge. They enhance recall and learning of information by reducing cognitive workload. Participants in the present study were asked whether they though the amount of time required for them to learn new routes (so they can navigate entirely from memory), has been affected since they acquired a navigation system. Figure 13 shows that although most participants reported no effect, over a quarter believed this learning time had decreased and a minority (18%) believed it had increased. Although this finding is contrary to previous research in this area, it should be noted that a questionnaire is not a particularly suitable tool for assessing the contribution of navigation system usage to cognitive map development as drivers may be unaware of their presence or development. Additional experimental work is required to shed further light on this issue.
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