On March 2nd, our team participated in the Atlanta Science Festival at Georgia Tech.
We conducted qualitative user testing on the redesigned onboarding screens for introducing the Air Quality Index (AQI). The previous version of the AQI concept kiosk screens had a few key issues. The animation-driven design was more passive than interactive, resulting in low user engagement. Visitors often lost interest while watching the animation and didn’t interact with the AQI calendar, where the main data visualization was displayed.
To address this, we replaced the onboarding animation with a more interactive learning experience. Leveraging the advantages of a touchscreen medium, we designed an interface where users had to engage with the prototype to proceed, rather than passively watching an animation.
Unlike our previous installation at Dataseum, where we used a large interactive museum kiosk, we had to adapt to the event’s mobility constraints and use an iPad. Given our target audience—K-12 children at the Atlanta Science Festival—we also adjusted the design, using more vibrant colors, playful fonts, and interactive elements to better capture their attention.
Our content aimed to educate users on several key concepts:
- The information about pollutants that determine AQI
- The health impacts of these pollutants
- How the pollutants are measured and converted into AQI levels
- How AQI levels influence daily decision-making
One of the main challenges we faced was presenting how pollutants are measured into AQI levels. Oversimplifying the process could lead to misunderstandings, while balancing interactivity with the need to convey dense, mathematical information was essential. Our team spent considerable time storyboarding and visually showing how pollutants are absorbed by the air sensor, taking users inside the sensor to demonstrate how the conversion happens. We made sure to incorporate interactivity, allowing users to actively participate in converting measurements into AQI numbers and understanding the health implications.
The result was fantastic! About 200 children and parents engaged with the prototype at the festival. Engagement increased by nearly 80% compared to the previous Dataseum animation, where people often lost interest early. The redesigned prototype kept children and parents engaged, with many completing the pollutant information and sparking conversations throughout the activity. Children especially enjoyed the interactive part where they had to drag and drop pollutants to convert them into AQI values, often asking to replay it.
Throughout the event, several insightful questions were raised:
- Are there other pollutants in the air beyond the six shown on the first screen?
- Where can AQI information be found? Many weren’t aware it’s available on weather apps.
- Where are the air sensors located in Atlanta, and how many exist?
- Is the AQI data in real-time?
- What should people do when the AQI goes beyond the orange color (moderate pollution)?
- Is there a trend in AQI levels during spring and summer?
Based on this feedback, our team decided to iterate on the prototype to address some of the questions raised. The event was a success overall, with attendees moving on to explore our AQI 10-year trend view afterward. Many were curious about seasonal changes in AQI and asked whether Atlanta’s AQI is improving.
We plan to implement the insights gathered during this event in our second iteration, which we will present at the next Atlanta Science Festival event on March 24th at Piedmont Park to gather further user feedback.