Master Thesis Remote Navigation of Pedestrians using Location Information and Voice Conversation

Navigation of pedestrians using cellphones is a common practice today. Typical example of that is a navigation system using GPS, which obtains users' position and provides suitable maps for the situation. It is getting popular with the diffusion of GPS-capable cellphones. The navigation methods using pedestrians' location have the advantage and disadvantage. We can provide real-time information according to the situation of pedestrians with the method. Therefore, they are expected to be used for not only daily navigation but also navigations in uncertain environment such as disaster or large scale event. But it is hard to navigate pedestrians who are bad at reading maps with the methods only using maps. The navigation methods using voice conversation are also popular. With the methods, pedestrians can ask the navigator any questions they have. Therefore, pedestrians bad at reading maps can get enough information by voice conversation. But there is also a disadvantage that the navigator cannot recognize pedestrian's location and direction adequately. That causes misunderstanding and misguidance of the pedestrian. With existing cellphones, pedestrians are unable to use GPS-function and voice conversation in parallel. However, that will be capable in the near future. In this study we researched two points below to find effective design of navigation system under the condition of the kind. Merit and Problem of the Navigation Style We started with the research of how the two information source are used efficiently by the pedestrian. We also found the case navigation fails and why it fails. and Voice Conversation To solve the problem found, we investigated what kind of functions are required for the navigation systems using cellphones. To research them, we recreated navigation system using location ii information and voice conversation with two cellphones. Then we conducted two experiments below and navigated subjects with the system. compared two pedestrian navigation systems. One uses only maps generated by location information. And the other uses voice conversation with navigator at the same time. In this experiment, we analyzed the subjects' behaviors and conversations to reveal what kind of information pedestrians need and how the information is provided. To observe the information needed, we applied an experimental maneuver letting two subjects act together and observed the conversations between them. Assistance We drew a following hypothesis from the first experiment-" With an assistance of direction sense, pedestrians get to read the maps adequately, and that leads effective use of voice conversation ". …