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Cartography for Swiss Higher Education

Navigation >> Spatial Navigation >> Navigation Tools

1.2.2. Navigation Tools

There is no single best (one-size-fits-all) spatial navigation tool that fits all needs. The suitability of navigation tools depends on the user (experience, motivation), the task to solve and the type and size of information space. Larger information spaces probably need different tools than smaller ones. Good mapping systems therefore provide multiple methods for zooming and panning. (HARROWER et al. 2005)

Panning in most mapping systems is similar: The map jumps e.g. 25% of its width per panning request on the interactive direction indicators (which further constrain the user to only eight directions). Having to traverse a large distance using such tools is slow and potentially makes it possible for the user to browse exactly the amount desired. According to HARROWER et al. (2005) the best map panning and zooming controls allow for both user-defined browsing and pre-defined browsing.



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