Beyond Navigation: Exploring Users' Contextual Information Needs and Concerns When Interacting with Mobile Map Apps

ABSTRACT Mobile map applications greatly facilitate users' everyday information practices and provide them with real‐time and accurate information in different contexts. However, few studies have explored the contextual information needs of users in their interactions with mobile maps. Semi‐structured interviews with 18 participants revealed that users present diverse and rich information needs in their everyday use of map applications, and in addition to the most common information needs for situ navigation, users' contextual information needs varied. Particularly, mobile map applications are increasingly characterized by serious leisure while highlighting their utility. In addition, with the evolution of the platformization of map applications, users are also demanding more autonomy, visibility, and security. This study contributes to the literature on human‐information interaction in mobile maps and sheds light on the user experience design of mobile map applications.