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Designing Future Interactions for Situated Extended Reality Maps

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this thesis, I explore the interaction and visualization of maps situated in Extended Reality (XR) environments, with a focus on innovative approaches to map navigation and manipulation suited to various domains, including cartography, geosciences, architecture, and building information management. In Chapter 3 I investigate Worlds-in-Miniature -- interactive, miniature world representations -- and other XR techniques to enhance map interactions. I propose a design space based on key dimensions of these miniatures including size-scope-scale, abstraction, geometry, reference frame, links, multiples, and virtuality. Through this, I analyze current applications and identify new opportunities for future exploration. In Chapter 4 I examine on-body gestures and microgestures to control Augmented Reality (AR) map navigation. I conduct a design exercise and elicitation study, which reveals a set of microgesture interaction patterns well-suited for cartographic tasks, demonstrating their potential for creating intuitive, tactile, and memorable AR map interfaces. Additionally, I present a proof-of-concept AR map prototype that further identifies both opportunities and challenges for integrating microgestures in map systems. Finally, in Chapter 5 I explore Ring Maps as a design solution for navigation, providing environmental visibility while minimizing obstruction of the real world. I conducted two user studies comparing Ring Maps with traditional 3D maps, which demonstrate their complementary nature. I find that 3D maps support planning and decision-making, while Ring Maps aid in navigation, distance estimation, and spatial awareness. The findings of this thesis offer valuable insights for the development of XR map systems, particularly in applications that require spatial reasoning, navigation, and environmental awareness and open up new avenues for future research in interactive and immersive map interfaces.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Computer Science
Grantor
Science
Year dc:date.issued
2025

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Danyluk, Kurtis
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Willett, Wesley
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Samavati, Faramarz
  • Jenny, Bernhard
  • Sharlin, Ehud
  • Kim, Kangsoo
  • Isenberg, Tobias

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/122513

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Calgary
Base URL
ucalgary.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Danyluk, Kurtis. Designing Future Interactions for Situated Extended Reality Maps. Science, 2025. https://hdl.handle.net/1880/122513