Wayfinding (or way-finding) encompasses all of the ways in which people (and animals) orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place. Wayfinding software is a self-service computer program that helps users to find a location, usually used indoors and installed on interactive kiosks or smartphones.

Basic process

The basic process of wayfinding involves four stages:

  1. Orientation is the attempt to determine one's location, in relation to objects that may be nearby and the desired destination.
  2. Route decision is the selection of a course of direction to the destination.
  3. Route monitoring is checking to make sure that the selected route is heading towards the destination.
  4. Destination recognition is when the destination is recognized.[1]

Historical usage

Historically, wayfinding refers to the techniques used by travelers over land and sea to find relatively unmarked and often mislabeled routes. These include but are not limited to dead reckoning, map and compass, astronomical positioning and, more recently, global positioning.[2]

Polynesian wayfinding refers to the use of traditional wayfinding and navigation methods by the indigenous peoples of Polynesia.[3] The ancient Polynesians and Pacific Islanders mastered the methods of wayfinding to explore and settle on the islands of the Pacific, many using devices such as the Marshall Islands stick chart. With these skills, some of them were even able to navigate the ocean as well as they could navigate their own land. Despite the dangers of being out at sea for a long time, wayfinding was a way of life.[4] Today, The Polynesian Voyaging Society tries-out the traditional Polynesian ways of navigation.

Urban or indoor

This section is an excerpt from Wayfinding (urban or indoor).[edit]
College library blueprints
Wayfinding has been used in the context of architecture to refer to the user experience of orientation and navigating within the built environment.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lidwell, William; Holden, Kritina; Butler, Jill (2010). "Wayfinding". The Pocket Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design. Rockport Publishers. p. 260. ISBN 9781610580656 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ O'Connor, M.R. (April 30, 2019). "GPS gives directions, but what does it take away?". Popular Science. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Modern Wayfinding". Polynesian Voyaging Society. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ Lin, Daniel (March 3, 2014). "Hōkūle'a: The Art of Wayfinding (Interview With a Master Navigator)". National Geographic. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
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