Summary
Title of the thesis: Assessing the colours impact on the legibility of digital maps
The bachelor thesis is the conclusion of the Geoinformatics and Geography Bachelor study programme at the department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University in Olomouc.
The aim of this bachelor thesis was to evaluate the effect of colours and colour combinations on the legibility of information on digital maps. For this purpose the experiment was created by eye-tracking device.
Impact of colours on the legibility of digital maps has been tested using modern eye-tracking technology. Testing focused on both: students of the Department of Geoinformatics (cartographers) and students of universities and high schools (general public). The aim of the testing was to find out whether the colour distance and the font size affects the ability of map readers to find desired information. And also, if a different colour hue has an effect on its readability. Watched the speed of finding the right answers and the count fixations.
The results are based on the responses of 50 respondents. The responses received were furthermore assessed using statistical methods (Shapiro-Wilk test of normality; Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test) and commented upon.
Using statistical calculations, it was determined that cartographers were more successful in the reading of and retrieval of information from the maps then general public. And was also confirmed the assumption, that public lasted a little more time finding the correct answers and also had a greater count of fixations. The survey also showed that colour hue has an impact on time and count of fixations tested in both groups of respondents. The results also showed that the boundaries between legible and illegible colour distances is between 15% - 20%. It was also found in the first case study that the cartographers of the time statistically significant impact on the colour distance. Conversely the font size proved to be statistically insignificant. Which the public doesn't matter nor the colour distance nor the font size in relation the time.
Statistical analyses assessing the colours impact on the legibility by the respondents could furthermore be used by the authors of cartographic works.
Eye-tracking technology was not fully utilized in the cartography or geosciences yet. It is clear, that it will have great importance in optimization of cartographic products and visualization of geographic data in the future.