Automatic Map Scaling in Car Navigation Systems Using Context-aware Computing
M. Sheleiby, Ali Asghar Alesheikh, Pouria Amirian · 2008
Abstract: Today, car navigation system is one of the most important applications of navigation system that is frequently used by drivers. Quality of maps, presented to drivers, has a direct imp act on usability and performance of the system. In this context, displaying maps in various scales which are adapted to user’s conditions and situations is a vital issue. In other words, users in different situations need maps with various scales to fulfill their information requirements. Since, using car navigation system is a secondary task for drivers (elementary task is driving and controlling cars) therefore, selecting and presenting maps with proper scale must be accomplished intelligently and automatically by the system. This paper proposes that in order to achieve the mentioned aim, context-aware computing should be utilized. Context-aware computing is a computing paradigm that enables systems to acquire current user’s context s and adapt their behavior accordingly. In this paper, the context-awareness potential for presenting maps with various scales which adapted to users context s is evaluated. Also various contexts that may have an impact on map scale are studied and then an approach to select proper scale in these contexts is proposed. As a proof of the idea, a prototype context-aware car navigation system is developed, implemented and tested in parts of Tehran, capital city of Iran. Key words: Car navigation • Context-aware computing • Map scale