The connected user interface: Realizing a personal situated navigation service

Navigation services can be found in different situations and contexts: while connected to the web through a desktop PC, in cars, and more recently on PDAs while on foot. These services are usually well designed for their specific purpose, but fail to work in other situations. In this paper we present an approach that connects a variety of specialized user interfaces to achieve a personal navigation service spanning different situations. We describe the concepts behind the BPN (BMW Personal Navigator), an entirely implemented system that combines a desktop event and route planner, a car navigation system, and a multi-modal, in- and outdoor pedestrian navigation system for a PDA. Rather than designing for one unified UI, we focus on connecting specialized UIs for desktop, in-car and on-foot use.