"Let's put it on the map!"

Cartographic interaction

a two-way dialogue between a user and a map mediated by a computing device

Niene Boeijen

Some expectation management

I do not have the answer

What is this all about?

Cartography = Map making & Map use

A communication model:

a message can be passed from the mapmaker to the map user

Maps are manipulated by the user

Cartographic interaction

Literature...

Direct manipulation

• Map Features and retrieve information
• selections, popups
• Map Legend - filter, colors
• Find more information

Entire map

• Choose base map, change context.
• Turn labels on and off



• zooming, panning
• finding a location / navigation

Menu selection - choose relevant data

Retrieve meta data, download, access data

Why do I think this is so important?

a Cartographer needs to be familiar with:

• Cartography
• Geo visualization
• Information visualization
• Interaction design
• Human-computer interaction
• IX design (interface)
• UX design (user experience)

What is UX?

User experience

Designing for the user:

Putting the user experience at the central design focus

What is a good user experience?

The user should be able to have a satisfying and valuable experience with the digital interface. To efficiently and effectively complete work and help being productive.

Bringing UX and cartography together!

The goal stays the same..

The user should be able to have a satisfying and valuable experience with the digital interface that contains a map. To efficiently and effectively complete work and help being productive.

Let's look at some examples

Performance

Geo data can be large, slow and hard to get into a web based map.

Slow response = a bad user experience

Action > Reaction

Always show action reaction. Click. Show something on the map.

Zoom level bar

A lot of geo data slow?

• Use different technology
• Show less, or change the visualization
• Give visual feedback to the user
• Show something different

Never ever show nothing..

Less is more

Figure from Roth and Harrower

It is the trade off between utility and usability/usefulness versus easy to use.

It is called the productivity paradox.

Simple interfaces with a small set of user tasks is sometimes more productive.

Simple interfaces with a small set of user tasks is sometimes more productive.

We love our buttons..

Remove redundant features

But there is a lot to show and a lot of functionality... ?

Use the interactivity!

Interactive legend

Group things together that go together

Gestalt law : The law of proximity is a principle in Gestalt psychology that describes how the human eye perceives elements that are close together as more related than elements that are further apart.

In summary

a lot of geo data does not have to be slow!

Action > reaction , always give a (visual) feedback to the user

Less is more!

Make use of the interactivity

Proximity: Group things that belong together

Inspiration & Literature

Robert E. Roth (2015) Robert E. Roth (2013a) Robert E. Roth (2013b) Thanks to Robert E. Roth and all his literature!

Thanks to EOX, for consulting and learning

Thanks to the VNG for learning and working with direct user feedback

Bright Cape report

Maaike Liem for inspiration

Sjors, Coen, Frederieke, Jelmer for their input

Thank you

Please come and talk to me! Questions, remarks, discussions are all welcome!