Improves mobile mapping and navigation apps by visualizing distant landmarks that typically fall outside the device display area.
Background: Existing mobile map or navigation apps generally provide directions through distance and turn-by-turn instructions – for example, “after 1 mile, turn right on to Lakeview street.” Directions like these often place users in a passive “following mode,” without any actual awareness of the surrounding environment. This can result in users having very minimum awareness of where they actually are from a geographical perspective. So, when the mobile device fails or loses access to signal, users can find themselves disoriented. And even when the device has signal, the limited size of a typical mobile phone screen can cause many local landmarks to fall outside the display area.
Technology Overview: This technology uses landmarks to help users establish spatial orientation to locations in the environment by visualizing important locations beyond the map display (in other words, off-screen landmarks). The technology references distant landmarks, commonly referred to when directions are provided, to support spatial orientation. It also displays off-screen landmarks to support orientation by allowing users to establish spatial relationship among landmark anchors in their mental representations, facilitated by the off-screen landmarks. This helps orient the user and place directions within geographical context. It also allows users to better find their destination if signal is lost.
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Advantages: • Better orients the user to the surrounding environment. • Shows landmarks that are typically outside a mobile phone’s limited display area. • Enables users to better locate their destinations in situations where signal is lost.
Applications: The primary application for this technology is to provide mapping and direction information to vehicle drivers. The technology may also be useful to hikers and pedestrians.
Intellectual Property Summary: Know-how and Copyright
Stage of Development: TRL 6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)
Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing.
Licensing Potential: This technology would be of interest to anyone involved in providing direction and mapping information to vehicle drivers, including: • Vehicle navigation system manufacturers. • Mobile device manufacturers. • Mobile mapping and direction app developers. • Automobile manufacturers.