Dynamic Maps : an Intuitive Interface for Naive Users of Spatial Database Systems

Many approaches have been used for querying spatial databases, but they rarely distinguish between expert users and “naive” ones. Two main approaches can be considered as interesting ways of querying and interacting with spatial and multimedia data, extended query languages on the one hand, and hypermedia techniques on the other hand. In this paper, we propose a framework for a navigational user interface model that will use both hypermedia and query language approaches. Navigation methods will use two types of links, explicit hypermedia links on the one hand, implicit and dynamic ones on the other hand which are based on spatial relationships between entities. We also propose different kinds of navigation strategies that will be usable and hopefully accepted by general public-like users.