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Spatial Descriptions as Navigational Aids: A Cognitive Analysis of Route Directions

Wegauskünfte als Navigationshilfen — eine kognitive Analyse

  • Published:
Kognitionswissenschaft

Zusammenfassung

Die Analyse von Wegauskünften gibt wertvolle Hinweise zur Untersuchung der Zusammenhänge zwischen Sprache und Raumkognition. Diese Forschungsrichtung untersucht das theoretisch wichtige Zusammenspiel zwischen verschiedenen Systemen kognitiver Repräsentation mit unterschiedlichen funktionalen Eigenschaften. Zudem bietet dieser Bereich eine einzigartige Chance für kooperative Forschung seitens der Psychologie, Linguistik, Informatik und Mensch-Computer-Interaktion, um durch ein tieferes Verständnis der kognitiven Prozesse zum Entwurf besserer Navigationssysteme beizutragen, die den kognitiven Fähigkeiten ihrer Benutzer angepaßt sind. Der Beitrag skizziert die kognitiven Prozesse beim Zustandekommen von Wegauskünften und identifiziert invariante Merkmale von Wegbeschreibungen in der Vielfalt protokollierter individueller Äußerungen. In natürlicher Umgebung gesammelte Daten wurden analysiert und zur Erstellung von „Skelettbeschreibungen“ genutzt, die nur das enthalten, was zur Navigation entlang einer Route nötig ist. Der funktionelle Wert dieser Beschreibungen wurde gemäß ihrer Brauchbarkeit zur Navigation in unbekannten Umgebungen ermittelt.

Abstract

The analysis of route directions provides a relevant context for the study of relationships between language and spatial cognition. This research examines the theoretical issue of the cooperation between differing cognitive representational systems possessing contrasting functional properties. In addition, this research domain offers a unique opportunity for psychology, linguistics, computer science, and human-machine communication to work together, thereby contributing to the understanding of cognitive processes and improving the design of navigational systems adjusted to the cognitive capacities of their users. This paper outlines the cognitive operations involved in producing route directions and identifies certain invariant features of route descriptions beyond the diversity of individual protocols. Data collected in natural environments were analyzed and used to construct “skeletal descriptions” that reflected the essentials needed for navigating along a route. The functional value of these descriptions was assessed by their ability to guide navigation in unfamiliar environments.

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Correspondence to Marie-Paule Daniel.

Additional information

The research reported in this article was supported by the CNRS (Cogniscience Program, National Thematic Project on the Representation of Space) and a Human Capital and Mobility grant (#CHRXCT940509) from the Commission of the European Communities.

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Daniel, MP., Denis, M. Spatial Descriptions as Navigational Aids: A Cognitive Analysis of Route Directions. Kognit. Wiss. 7, 45–52 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03354963

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03354963

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