Spatial Cues in Small Screen Devices: Benefit Or Handicap?

Disorientation in small-screen-device menus is a frequent problem for many users. This study examines if navigation aids containing spatial information may reduce disorientation. Two aids were implemented into a simulated mobile phone: One aid contained spatial cues, providing an overview of menu locations and routes, the other delivered landmark knowledge, representing salient features on the route. Also, a condition without any aid was examined. 24 children and 24 adults solved four phone tasks twice. Dependent variables were navigation effectiveness and efficiency. Performance was lowest when users were not supported by any aid. The aid providing survey knowledge yielded the best performance. Though, the relative benefit by aids revealed to be age-related. While the aid providing survey knowledge was advantageous for all users, the aid delivering landmark knowledge was especially harmful for the children, which showed considerably more detouring in the menu. It is concluded that navigation aids reduce disorientation in small devices, especially those which support users to build up a spatial representation of the menu.