Polynesian navigation: locomotion and previewing aspects

Abstract

In investigations of navigation for information spaces we have been inspired by the navigational methods of seagoing peoples of Polynesia and Micronesia (Hutchins 1983). From them we borrow a notion of locomotion in which the traveller remains stationary and the terrain moves relative to the traveller. We discuss two prototypes for navigation tools in Web information spaces in which images are used the primary means for presenting Metainformation about locale (web pages), movement is modelled as a flowstream of information coming to the user, and orientation is visualised through positions in ordered sequences. The goal is to increase navigability by allowing the user to quickly preview many possible moves before the next step is taken.