On October 20th, 2023, our research team members, Yixuan Li (HCC PhD) and Jaeri Suh (MS-HCI), undertook an observational research trip to the Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta. Our objective was to examine the mediums used by the center to promote civil rights and to comprehend how visitors interacted with the kiosk screens and presented information in the museum.
Our primary focus encompassed two aspects: firstly, engaging the public with complex content, and secondly, determining the optimal length and style of content for our informational materials.
The museum featured around 14 interactive digital mediums, including mirrors displaying photo collages of iconic moments and table top kiosk screens exhibiting data visualizations on civil rights statuses worldwide. They employed diverse storytelling methods, ranging from animation to interactive card collections, implemented through different sizes and types of kiosk screens. Our observations provided creative insights into effective information delivery methods, whether through typography, pictures, or interactive screens showcasing data visualizations. Moreover, we gained valuable insights into visitor behaviors during these interactions.
After the initial museum tour, we decided to work on a quick and exploratory experiment to determine the digital interactions that most effectively engaged visitors. The experiment duration was set for 30 minutes. We divided the area to record the average time spent and the number of people focusing on and remaining at the screens. This approach yielded both quantitative and qualitative insights into engagement levels, visitor behavior, age demographics, and conversations among visitors.
Yixuan Li, a PhD-HCC student, observed a gallery on the third floor of the museum that displays three A4 size rectangular kiosk screens facilitated data visualization storytelling about China’s freedom of the press. However, this interaction was limited, allowing visitors only to navigate through pages by pressing the “next” button.
Simultaneously, Jaeri Suh (MS-HCI student) observed the second floor, where two tabletop kiosks with 4 touch points each presented content about the history of civil activities. Visitors could touch specific cards displaying topics, revealing related reading information. Compare to Yixuan’s section’s kiosk, they were more text heavy, but allowed visitor to choose what to read.
Our initial hypothesis suggested that visitors might find visually-oriented content more engaging and easier to comprehend. Surprisingly, the results contradicted this hypothesis. Visitors spent an average of 40 seconds on visually-oriented interfaces but engaged for about 1 minute with text-heavy kiosks, showing a preference for thorough reading and exploration. Interestingly, the text-heavy kiosk attracted more visitors, with nearly every passerby engaging within 30 minutes, while the visual-centric screen only attracted 8 individuals.
Comparing the outcomes, we drew several key insights:
- Larger screens with multiple touch points encourage collaborative learning and increased engagement and learning time.
- Visitors prefer interacting with content based on personal preferences rather than passive reception of pre-set information.
- Visitor attention spans are generally around 1 minute; therefore, concise and essential information is crucial to maintaining engagement.
- Strategic placement within smaller spaces increases visitor engagement, fostering exploration and prolonged interaction.
- Implementing these insights should be context-specific; different subjects evoke distinct visitor engagement preferences. While historical subjects lean towards textual engagement, scientific topics may benefit more from data visualization and animation for better comprehension.