In daily life, people often rely on mobile navigation systems (e.g., based on GPS) to find their way in unfamiliar environments. While automated navigation systems help us efficiently find our way, they seem to impair our ability to acquire spatial knowledge about the environment, which is vital for cognitive development and other related functions. As mobile navigation systems are becoming an integrated part of our daily lives, it is essential to investigate their potential “side effects” on spatial learning, and develop methods to avoid or reduce them.

This project aims to empirically study the impact of mobile navigation systems on incidental spatial learning during real-world pedestrian navigation, as well as explore personalisation methods to improve navigation systems to facilitate incidental spatial learning without harming navigation performance. This project will make a timely contribution to 'positively' shape the future of the mobile information society, into which our human society is evolving. Practically, the personalisation method will also enable significant improvement to existing navigation systems.