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If geovisualisation is defined as the exploration of location data through interactive interfaces, what does it mean if the notions of ‘interaction’ and ‘interfaces’ are moving away from ...

If geovisualisation is defined as the exploration of location data through interactive interfaces, what does it mean if the notions of ‘interaction’ and ‘interfaces’ are moving away from traditional desktop metaphors, and into the realm of mobile, ubiquitous and tangible computing? Through a brief discussion on haptic, auditory and tangible interfaces, we highlight that there is a need to study broader social contexts of use of spatial technologies. We then provide a case study that aims to do this: by conducting a qualitative study with park rangers in a national park, we describe the spatial, social and temporal quality of their relationships to the environment, and suggest that these findings could be used as inspirations for the design of future technologies that are at once spatial and social.