A Tourist Navigation System that Promotes Interaction with Environment

We propose a new tourist navigation system that does not provide detailed route information. Most conventional navigation systems provide the shortest optimal route from the current location to the destination. This often changes a sightseeing stroll into an act that traces the recommended route. In our approach, users are required to create a sightseeing route plan, by deciding which spots to visit and how to reach the spots. They use icons to specify the spots, and draw routes freehand on the digital map system. When they start sightseeing, the digital map is not displayed on the mobile computer, and they can refer only to spot icons, freehand routes and real-time location data from the GPS. The freehand route is expected to create accidental encounters.