Small differences: Limits of Legibility of Cartographic Symbols on High- and Ultra-High-Resolution Mobile Displays

Abstract

This paper reports on a lab study that attempts to experimentally establish the limits of legibility of fundamental cartographic symbology on modern smartphone screens. Participants were presented six classes of stimuli on four different displays of varying pixel densities, and were asked to identify the cartographic symbol shown among a set of choices. The results of the experiment should help to develop updated guidelines for minimal dimensions of cartographic symbology for use on mobile phones and other high resolution digital displays.