Information Visualization and Location-Based Services on Mobile Devices

With the widespread adoption of mobile devices and location-based services (LBSs), using location-based information from mobile devices has become increasingly common. However, accomplishing tasks on mobile devices remains challenging due to the complexity of location-based information and visualization constraints of mobile devices. Effective information visualization is, therefore, critical for improving user perceptions and usage. Based on theories of cognition and information visualization, we propose a novel hybrid approach that integrates presentation formats and interactivity features for information visualization. We implement the proposed approach on mobile devices and empirically evaluate it in a laboratory experiment. The results suggest that textand map-based presentation formats significantly enhance user perceptions. Both semantic zoom and content filtering features have significant effects on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of mobile LBSs. Our theoretical and practical contributions, as well as plans for further testing and enhancing are discussed.