A Framework of Color-Coded Indoor Wayfinding Assistance

Wayfinding is a fundamental cognitive function that helps people maintain a sense of location and direction. On one hand, portable global positioning systems (GPS) have significantly facilitated our outdoor wayfinding; on the other hand, there hasn't been a widely implemented indoor wayfinding solution to adequately address our navigation and evacuation concerns. For example, conventional signage systems can be hard to notice and have been criticized for their incapability of conveying comprehensive information. Mobile devices have inherent limitations such as heavy reliance on infrastructure and requiring mental effort to process information from the screen. This paper presents a framework of color-coded indoor wayfinding assistance. This framework uses different color themes to facilitate daily navigation and aid in emergency evacuation. Within each theme, color transitions are designed to indicate the direction of exit. Related research topics of applying such a framework for indoor wayfinding are discussed, including the design of color codes, the psychological effects of colors, and the possibility of using Virtual Reality as an experimental tool. Lastly, a plan for a next-step experiment is introduced and opened for discussion.