TY - GEN
T1 - Detection of Intelligibility leaps using Isovist-waves; joining the dots to map potential ‘aha moment’ locations
AU - McElhinney, Sam
AU - Dalton, Ruth
AU - Dalton, Nick S.
AU - Mavros, Panagiotis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Proceedings 13th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2022. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/6/20
Y1 - 2022/6/20
N2 - Our paper describes the exploration of and progress towards a new computational method to detect the location of potential ‘aha moments’ during the learning of a novel spatial configuration. ‘Aha moments’ refer to instances of sudden reorientation where the overall understanding of spatial configuration suddenly, and often unexpectedly, increases. We developed a novel computational approach to detect such a phenomenon, by spawning isovists from initial random points within the navigable space, then iteratively seeding new isovist points from the occluding edges of the latest iteration. When new isovists are able to reconnect with previously generated ones, the connection is held to be particularly advantageous (to a navigator) and the new link’s attributes, such as location, are noted. With our method, the spatial configuration is ‘explored’ progressively, simultaneously allowing the detection of changes in integration and intelligibility of the configuration as a whole. We present the outcomes of applying our method to three case-studies; Hillier’s legible world/town, van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion, and Hertzberger’s Beheer Centraal Offices. The results show that isovist-derived, potential ‘aha locations’ are systematic, and appear at the intersections between large spatial and informational units. As such, the measure is assumed to have similarities with other, existing space syntax concepts (clustering coefficients, e- and s- spaces, revelation) but is also appears distinct in its focus on pairwise-connections with previously seen locations. We hypothesise that our measure is highly sensitive to locations where people identify shortcuts during spatial exploration or learning. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions.
AB - Our paper describes the exploration of and progress towards a new computational method to detect the location of potential ‘aha moments’ during the learning of a novel spatial configuration. ‘Aha moments’ refer to instances of sudden reorientation where the overall understanding of spatial configuration suddenly, and often unexpectedly, increases. We developed a novel computational approach to detect such a phenomenon, by spawning isovists from initial random points within the navigable space, then iteratively seeding new isovist points from the occluding edges of the latest iteration. When new isovists are able to reconnect with previously generated ones, the connection is held to be particularly advantageous (to a navigator) and the new link’s attributes, such as location, are noted. With our method, the spatial configuration is ‘explored’ progressively, simultaneously allowing the detection of changes in integration and intelligibility of the configuration as a whole. We present the outcomes of applying our method to three case-studies; Hillier’s legible world/town, van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion, and Hertzberger’s Beheer Centraal Offices. The results show that isovist-derived, potential ‘aha locations’ are systematic, and appear at the intersections between large spatial and informational units. As such, the measure is assumed to have similarities with other, existing space syntax concepts (clustering coefficients, e- and s- spaces, revelation) but is also appears distinct in its focus on pairwise-connections with previously seen locations. We hypothesise that our measure is highly sensitive to locations where people identify shortcuts during spatial exploration or learning. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions.
KW - Aha Moment
KW - Isovist Intelligibility
KW - Isovists
KW - Spatial Cognition
KW - Wayfinding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145548158&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85145548158
T3 - Proceedings 13th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2022
BT - Proceedings 13th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2022
A2 - van Nes, Akkelies
A2 - de Koning, Remco E.
PB - Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL)
T2 - 13th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2022
Y2 - 20 June 2022 through 24 June 2022
ER -