EFFECTS OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF OVERVIEW MAPS AND GENDER DIFFERENCES ON WAYFINDING IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

抄録

This study verified the effects of the transparency of overview maps and gender differences on wayfinding performance and subjective evaluations in a Virtual Environment (VE). The research variables were the transparency of overview maps (0%, 50%, and 100% transparency) and gender (males and females). Sixty young adults participated in this study. The results are as follows: (1) The wayfinding performance of the 50% and 100% transparency overview maps were significantly better than the 0% transparency overview map in the task of judging perceptual information. (2) Males showed significantly better wayfinding performance than females in the more difficult task. (3) The 50% transparency overview map was of significantly higher subjective rationality than the 100% transparency overview map. (4) Females gave the 50% transparency overview map significantly higher SUS scores than the 0% transparency overview map. (5) Females with the 50% transparency overview map showed significantly stronger subjective preference and higher SUS scores than males.