Navigating Large Virtual Spaces. The purpose of this study was to show that spatial knowledge theories and environmental design principles are applicable to the design of virtual worlds. The application of environmental design principles is suggested to provide the necessary structure by which an observer can mentally organize a virtual environment into a spatial hierarchy capable of supporting wayfinding tasks. This division should be hierarchical in nature.
Orientation is very critical to effective wayfinding.
The wayfinder must always be properly oriented with the space. If disoriented, new spatial knowledge may be encoded erroneously and existing spatial knowledge may be difficult or impossible to apply to wayfinding problems. Directional cues can prevent or minimize such disorientation. This information can be supplied in the form of directional landmarks or independently, as in a compass. The importance of maps to spatial knowledge acquisition cannot be overlooked.