conference poster

Prototype

Concept

AR museum is an augmented reality system that helps different background visitors to better understand the content of "Perspectives of Brisbane" in Museum of Brisbane. By using AR technology, the system will create an immersive cognitive environment (such as an animated soldier tells visitors the fighting spirit, how and what happened in the war, how they defended their sovereignty). In addition, this system can provide different language explain services which could reduce the negative impact of language barriers on the visitor's visit process.

Development

In this development process, we conducted a total of user testing and iteration.

First, we used the paper prototype (low-fidelity prototype) to designed the layout and the main functions of the application such as multi-language services and corresponding events through the AR recognition image system. Then, we conducted a user test by combining the body-storming and paper prototype and invited a total of 7 participants. At the same time, we paid attention to the behavior of the user during use and the problems that may occur. We then further optimized and iterated the existing design with quantitative and qualitative data collected in the user test.

Iteration:

• Add a marker at the system target image to remind the user to use the system for AR recognition.

• Simplify the user interface to reduce the cognitive load that users may have during use.

• Shorten the time of the corresponding event to avoid user experience degradation due to fatigue

• Adjust the size of the corresponding virtual object to control the distance between the user and the exhibit.

Summery

The exhibit "Perspectives of Brisbane" at the Museum of Brisbane is a combination of text and images to show the history of Brisbane's city, which is divided into eight sections. However, for most visitors and some foreigners with language barriers, a large number of textual introductions may cause difficulties in their cognitive process and reduce the experience of visiting. Therefore, for this exhibition we hope to be able to alleviate this problem through our design.

We conducted a large number of surveys before the design, including observations and interviews for visitors to the "Perspectives of Brisbane" exhibition, as well as academic research in this field and explore the technology to enhance the museum visiting experience. Then we decided to develop an AR Guide application.

In order to better alleviate the difficulties of understanding the exhibition contents and improve museum visiting experience, we optimized and iterated our system according to collected data. While ensuring the authenticity and reliability of the content, it also meets the entertainment needs and curiosity of the target users, which also helps to enhance the user's cognitive participation during the visit and help them better understand the exhibit content.

Process

Our process is based on the HCI Interaction Lifecycle Model. This is an overview of the whole process.

Step 1: Establishing Requirements

• Confirm Domain: Improve tourist’s cognition in museums
• Contextual inquiry

Step 2: Designing Alternatives

• Observation
• Interview

Step 3: Prototyping

• Mockup
• Low fidelity prototype

Step 4: Evaluating

• Focus Group / A&B Group
• TAM test
• Interview

Step 5: Redesigning

• Evaluation
• Change

Step 6: Prototyping II

• High fidelity prototype (AR functional prototype)

Step 7: Evaluating

• Interview

Initial Design

We mainly use paper prototypes to test whether users can enhance their cognition through this diverse form of interaction. So we selected two parts of a wall of the museum and tested it.

We simply designed the interactive interface; the main features include:

1. Language selection, support for multiple languages.
2. Process guidance, guide the visitor's visit sequence by completing tasks and avoid traffic jams.
3. Scan function, scan text can appear picture or audio AR technology interaction.

But based on user feedback from the first test, we found that:

1. The users are impatient to visit in the order of the tasks. They prefer a free mode of visit, without restrictions.
2. Everyone likes the way new interactions are done, especially the way soldiers talk and interact.
3. Users are not sure where they can be scanned.

Second Prototype

Based on the test results, we made a high fidelity prototype. Using unity we have created an AR technology interface that can be scanned with a mobile phone.

Our new prototype features include:

1. Removed the task control guide, but added the "Scan me" logo to let the user know where to scan.
2. Added a manual guide to remind people that they can use mobile technology.
3. Mainly includes three forms of interaction: audio, pictures, models.

User testing

• Location: 209 building 78

• Time: 15/10/2019

Our paper prototype tested two parts of the space, and one, is about the Physical environment of Brisbane, anther one is different aspects of Brisbane history. We invited six participants to split into two groups. Group A is simulating a scene in a museum, reading about the text on a display board, and group B is participating in our prototype simulation using AR. After the testing, we asked them nine questions and out of five questions need to be rated from 1 to 5.

Here are the questions we asked

Do you think you learned something new? 1-5 Can you talk about it briefly?（one point one） Do you think you can read all the descriptions？（if in the museum） Easy to understand degree 1-5 Do you find this attractive 1-5 In what order do you visit? Did you feel organized during the tour? From 1 to 5 Did you like it during the tour? Which interactive way do you like best?

Results

Group A P01:

• 20% chance of reading the long text in the museum.
• Do not think it is attractive to them, too many words, tend to video form
• Some suggestions for interaction, collect games, role-play, AR(location)

Group A P02:

• The text on the board is out of order.
• Not attractive, and did not like it.
• The content can be classified, and the interface can be increased in voice and video as the content changes, and the image can be more than the text. The background is too depressed and the content is boring, like a textbook.

Group A P03:

• Only pictures and collections attractive for her and won't read so many texts in front of the collection
• Did not feel organized.
• For landscape description, have some model, or have some keywords would be better

Group B P01:

• It attractive for him
• The soldier can introduce the history of Brisbane in AR is the favorite part.

Group B P02:

• form still needs to be improved, AR voice is best combined with pictures.
• Scan and show the pictures.

Group B P03:

• It is interesting and hasn’t experienced in the museum.
• AR and VR is a good way to build the bridge between people and exhibition

Analysis

Analysis of Survey

The average score for both groups was 16 for group A and 20 for group B. As indicated, people rated the system using in group B more highly. In the group A test, all participants mentioned that the text was too long and said they did not read all the text. And it's easy to lose interest. Participants said they were more likely to read moving pictures or video. In group B, the virtual soldier was the favourite of some participants, but one felt the introduction was too long, indicating that people's acceptance of speech was also limited. But all participants expressed their approval of the combination of AR technology and presentation content. They think it does increase the appeal of the exhibition and give them a desire to continue exploring the content. But most of the participants said they preferred to see the content as they wished, rather than being required to see it first or last. Therefore, in the design, we have removed the priority of specified tasks.

Analysis of TAM

Perceived usefulness(PU) Attitude(ATT) perceived ease of use(PEOU) intention to use(ITO)

PU1 Overall, I find functionalities of the system is useful.
PEOU1 Learning to use the system is easy for me.
PEOU2 Overall, it is easy to understand the function.
ATT1 It is desirable to use the system.
ATT2 I think it is good for me to use the system.
ATT3 Overall, my attitude towards the system is favourable.
ATT4 How do you like the system interface design?
PEOU3 Could you realize the words of the system?
PU1 Is our system might help you reduce the time spending on realizing?
PU2 It is easy to use the system to accomplish my needs.
ITO1 I will use the system on a regular basis in the future.
ITO2 I will use the system in the future.
ITO3 I will recommend others to use the system.

Result of TAM: In the group B test, we asked participants to fill in the TAM form after using the system. The average result is more than three points, which indicates that the users generally approve our system. The lowest one was the attitude group. Participants were all divided into three points in terms of whether they liked the interface design or not. According to the results of discrete values, the participants mostly scored three points, which means that the interface design affects people's attitude to this system, we will make some changes in the interface design, in an interview with the corresponding problem, we know that some participants felt that exhibits the background color of the fainter, this answer indicates that visitors would prefer bright coloursSo we took that into account in our subsequent design.

Iteration/Changes

According to the feedback we received in the showcase, people are positive about this novel approach, and we have simply made some interviews to make a directional improvement analysis for future development:

1. The form of disorderly visits is actually better because it is not easy to cause traffic jams when using mobile phone scanning. People can stand even further.
2. Our "scan me" logo is not particularly obvious, people are still confused, where can show AR technology.
3. Our evaluation is relatively simple, and we need to conduct more professional evaluations in the future, such as heuristic evaluation.

We believe that in these more steps, we can truly change the experience of people in the museum, so that they can enjoy the process more, enhance their cognition and enjoy the convenience brought by technology.

Team VC

Team allocation of tasks

• Wenhui, Bu - Contextual inquiry research, Initial Design, User testing, Digital prototype
• Yi, LU – Contextual inquiry research, Initial Design, Digital prototype coding/build
• Tiantian, Bao - Contextual inquiry research, Initial Design, User testing
• Summer, Yang - Contextual inquiry research, Initial Design, User testing