DIGITAL MAP DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR LOCAL TOURISM: COMPARING USER BASIC CONSCIOUSNESS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND JAPAN

抄録

This study investigates the influence of nationality, ages, and address systems on the use of digital maps in wayfinding. The examination shows how user-whether they are merely browsing maps or actively trying to find a destination-perceive and interact with their environments. Also, assessing the current problems regarding digital maps. It compares user experiences of participants from different nationalities, age groups, and genders through a questionnaire. The subjects are from Taiwan and Japan, and either in their 20s or above the age of 60. Through a Chi-square test, some significant differences between nationality, age, and sex was revealed. For example, Taiwanese use street names, landmarks, and outward appearances of destinations to help them confirm their own position. When user above the age of 60 try to establish their location, they rely on three aids. In principal component analysis, four factors influence digital map functions: (1) Orientation; (2) Tourism Information; (3) Atmosphere; and (4) Checking Information. In these usability problems, especially three wayfinding aids and the factors of operating map, which means the map should not only be considerate as a tool that all kind of people can understand and how user interact among themselves, map and environment. And the order and wayfinding aids can be set as following the three wayfinding tasks for different kind of groups of users to have a more comfortable and usable map using experience.