Are Displays Maps or Views

Abstract

Metaphors are powerful means to design and learn user interfaces for computer systems. This paper discusses metaphors for display operations in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Specifically, the metaphor DISPLAYS ARE VIEWS is proposed and analyzed. It is presented as an antithesis to the metaphor DISPLAYS ARE MAPS, which is consciously or unconsciously adopted by designers and users of most GIS interfaces. Displays are understood here as graphic screen presentations of geographic space, maps as static (paper) maps and views as visual fields, containing what humans see in a given situation. The major advantage of the visual field as a metaphor source is that it naturally accommodates scale changes. Thus, analyzing its structure also sheds new light on the generalization problem for displays. 1. Introduction 1 Kuhn, W. 1991. "Are Displays Maps or Views?". In Proceedings of ACSM-ASPRS AutoCarto 10, in Baltimore, Maryland, Published by American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, Vol...

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