Evaluating the Effectiveness of Different Directional Signage Systems in Indoor Wayfinding: A Human-Centered Experiment Conducted in Virtual Reality

Abstract

The design of wayfinding systems plays a crucial role in shaping both indoor navigation efficiency and the overall spatial experience. Well-designed directional signage not only facilitates the swift and accurate navigation to destinations, minimizing physical fatigue, psychological stress, and frustration due to disorientation, but also plays a vital role in enhancing safety, particularly in emergency situations, by preventing accidents resulting from navigational errors. This is especially critical in complex architectural environments, where the presence of an effective wayfinding system is indispensable. Traditional indoor navigation strategies generally fall into two categories: the first involves grouping destinations and utilizing repetitive signage and arrows to indicate routes, which relies on the user's continuous spatial orientation; the second involves the implementation of continuous guiding paths on floors or walls, often distinguished by varying colors or line styles, designed to reduce cognitive load and minimize directional uncertainty, thereby promoting smoother navigation. Although each of these methods offers distinct advantages and limitations, a systematic comparison of their performance in different environments, especially through the combination of multiple signage types, remains an area that warrants further investigation.This study utilizes immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to simulate virtual environments and assess the efficacy of four distinct wayfinding systems in indoor navigation tasks. The research specifically examines the influence of signage systems on the wayfinding behavior of individuals unfamiliar with a building. Participants were tasked with navigating from the building's entrance to designated rooms under four different signage conditions: wall-mounted signage, ceiling-hanging signage, floor-based continuous guiding signage, and wall-based continuous guiding signage. Key performance metrics, including task success rate, travel distance, completion time, number of pauses, and average movement speed, were recorded and analyzed to evaluate the potential of each signage system in enhancing navigation efficiency.This research not only elucidates the effects of different signage systems on indoor navigation efficiency but also offers empirical evidence to inform the optimization of wayfinding systems in future architectural designs. The findings suggest that by strategically selecting and configuring signage types, the efficiency of navigation in complex or unfamiliar environments can be significantly improved, cognitive load reduced, and valuable insights provided for building design, spatial planning, and emergency evacuation strategies.

Keywords: Wayfinding Efficiency, Virtual Reality, Signage Design, Signage Effectiveness, Behavioral Analysis, Indoor Navigation

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005840