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William E. Cartwright
Exploring Games and Gameplay as a Means of Accessing and Using
Geographical Information
Affiliation: RMIT University
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Keywords: geographical knowledge,
information access, interfaces, cartography, multimedia
Abstract:
Gaming computers are now as
powerful as their office/industry counterparts, or, in some
cases, even more powerful. Gaming strategies and games could
provide an innovative means for accessing geographical
information, including geographical information accessed via
the Web.
This paper reports on
research undertaken to ascertain the usefulness of
implementing a “games” interface for accessing geographical
information. Three simple prototype packages were built and
subsequently tested to see if access to information via a
different interface would enhance information provided to
users from a selected user group profile – the “Nintendo”
group of users. Ormeling (1993) has identified this group as
those users who have been exposed to computer games and thus
potentially prefer access to computer-delivered information
via this type of interface. The use of the prototypes was
compared with the use of a conventional paper map for the same
area and evaluations were completed to ascertain:
- The general operability of
the products;
- Whether users preferred other
metaphor approaches to traditional map interfaces;
- Whether 3D graphic interfaces
are preferable to 2D interfaces; and
- Whether this type of product
provides a better “picture” of reality.
It was found that generally users preferred interactive
multimedia to using conventional maps. They found that it
would be easier for users who were not competent computer
users to use a game-like control, and that the cognitive load
was generally easier with a 3D interface, compared to a 2D
interface.
Furthermore, it was
possible to conclude that this type of product provided a
better understanding of a real place than a conventional map.
This paper provides a background to the research, information
about how the research was conducted, results from the
evaluations and propositions for further research
The article may be referenced as
Cartwright, William E.
“Exploring Games and Gameplay as a Means of Accessing and
Using Geographical Information.”
Human IT 8.3
(2006): 28–67. <http://www.hb.se/bhs/ith/3-8/wc.pdf>
