Experience Maps: Experience-Enhanced Routes for Car Navigation

Abstract

People spend a considerable time per day driving a car. Navigation technology helps the driver to find a location, to see traffic details, or to estimate the arrival time. Selecting a certain route influences the driving experience (i.e., the user experience while driving) through factors such as traffic density, landscape, or road type. However, current navigation systems mainly optimize routes regarding time, distance, or fuel efficiency--neglecting important driving experience factors: The fastest route might still be packed with traffic which stresses drivers or negatively influence their mood. In contrast, a slightly slower route could for instance offer a better driving experience with less traffic and scenic views. In this paper, we propose a concept that allows for experience-optimized routing to make driving more joyful and pleasurable. We also present the results of a web survey with 114 participants that we conducted to explore the users' preferences and opinions regarding taking the experience into account for route guidance.