空间构形的内在可读性与寻路设计

本文旨在探讨空间构形的内在可读性与在寻路之间的关系。在对常州某区域进行虚拟寻路实验后发现．空间构形的内在可读性在很大程度上影响主体在寻路过程中的表现。笔者相信研究结果对城市设计特别是寻路设计将会有很大帮助。     

Interpretation of way-finding healthcare symbols by a multicultural population: Navigation signage design for global health

The interpretation of way-finding symbols for healthcare facilities in a multicultural community was assessed in a cross-sectional study. One hundred participants recruited from Al Ain city in the United Arab Emirates were asked to interpret 28 healthcare symbols developed at Hablamos Juntos (such as vaccinations and laboratory) as well as 18 general-purpose symbols (such as elevators and restrooms). The mean age was 27.6 years (16–55 years) of whom 84 (84%) were females. Healthcare symbols were more difficult to comprehend than general-purpose signs. Symbols referring to abstract concepts were the most misinterpreted including oncology, diabetes education, outpatient clinic, interpretive services, pharmacy, internal medicine, registration, social services, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and infectious diseases. Interpretation rates varied across cultural backgrounds and increased with higher education and younger age. Signage within healthcare facilities should be tested among older persons, those with limited literacy and across a wide range of cultures.     

Using audio to support animated route information in a hospital touch-screen kiosk

It can be difficult for both patients and staff to find particular locations within large, modern hospital building complexes. Interactive way-finding information on a touch-screen kiosk might remedy this, but numerous design issues face those developing appropriate interfaces. This paper discusses the decisions underlying a design which provided routes to 16 destinations in the UK’s third largest hospital, for both stair users and those wishing to avoid stairs. All routes included an animated map, photographs and text boxes with optional spoken output. Assessment methods included unobtrusive observation of kiosk users, analysis of computer logs, and interviews with reception staff who normally answered way-finding queries. Observation confirmed that people using the touch-screen reached their destinations. The computer logs over 10 weeks showed a stable daily average of 82 people interacting with the kiosk. Most way-finders (72%) retained the voice output but 28% turned it off, suggesting that modality choice is needed in multimedia interfaces for the public. This study highlighted beneficial side-effects of interactive way-finding kiosks, such as enabling patients to access relevant route information before visiting the hospital. This information could be provided via the internet or by including a printout of the relevant route with the appointment letter.     

Using virtual reality to determine how emergency signs facilitate way-finding

In this study, virtual reality was the tool used to construct an experimental space. Three scenarios - one without emergency signs, another with an old-version emergency sign, and the third with a new-version emergency sign - were created, after which 107 subjects, divided into three groups, engaged in an emergency escape game to determine if and how various emergency signs aid in way-finding in the event of an emergency. Under the presupposition that the minimum time needed for an emergency escape without any mistake occurring was 40 s, we found that the average way-finding time in the scenario without any emergency signs was 123.8 s, for the scenario with the new-version signs 84.8 s, and for the scenario with the old-version signs 75.6 s; statistically, this demonstrated that the absence of signs results in slower escape than either old signs (p = 0.001) or new signs (p = 0.005). These findings indicate that signs do help way-finding greatly. Males were found to exhibit better way-finding skills than females (p < 0.001). Construction workers and fire safety personnel, as a combined group, did not fare better than others with less presumed prior experience with building plans or emergency exit procedures. In addition, when faced with both an emergency direction sign and an exit door, almost half of the subjects (42% of the participants) were chosen to take the door instead of following the direction posted on the sign. Finally, we found that, at T-intersections, the majority of participants (60%) chose to turn left versus right.     

地下公共空间中的行为研究：一个案例调查

调查了上海徐家汇地铁站地下公共空间中失们的交通、购物与寻路行为,认为时间和环境品质对地下街的利用有很大的影响,与地铁站相连通的地下街有较高的利用率,与地铁站在地下连通的商场能吸引大量的人流。     

以模拟寻路过程为方法探讨理想状态下的寻路问题

该文在阐明寻路问题重要性的前提下,通过对一次完整寻路过程的模拟,探讨在理想状态下,各专业学科和管理部门可以为寻路便捷所提供的设计内容和管理方式,使重视寻路问题的观念深入人心是解决常态下寻路问题的当务之急。