Fluid Grouping

Abstract

Interactive surfaces are increasingly common in museums and other informal learning environments where they are seen as a medium for promoting social engagement. However, despite their increasing prevalence, we know very little about factors that contribute to collaboration and learning around interactive surfaces. In this paper we present analyses of visitor engagement around several multi-touch tabletop science exhibits. Observations of 629 visitors were collected through two widely used techniques: video study and shadowing. We make four contributions: 1) we present an algorithm for identifying groups within a dynamic flow of visitors through an exhibit hall; 2) we present measures of group-level engagement along with methods for statistically analyzing these measures; 3) we assess the effect of observational techniques on visitors' engagement, demonstrating that consented video studies do not necessarily reflect visitor behavior in more naturalistic circumstances; and 4) we present an analysis showing that groups of two, groups with both children and adults, and groups that take turns spend longer at the exhibits and engage more with scientific concepts.

Gestures by Children and Adults on Touch Tables and Touch Walls in a Public Science Center

“…Observing visitor behavior as they interact with exhibits may lead to changes in their typical behavior as visitors try to please the observer if visitors discover the researcher observing them [26,28]. Block et al [8], for example, studied visitor engagement around multi-touch tabletop science exhibits using video study and shadowing and found that the research methodology affected user engagement. Unobtrusive observation alone is also difficult due to space constraints [18].…”

“…Large touchscreen devices such as tabletops and smart walls are also becoming more prevalent, in settings such as science museums and classrooms [22,23]. Research on children's interactions with touchscreen devices has examined both small and large screens [2][3][4]24,33,34,42,45,52], compared children's interaction to adults [2][3][4]8,24,26,27] and compared the interaction of children of different ages to each other [3,4,42].…”

HCI Research as Problem-Solving

“…In addition, some empirical papers describe unknown factors shaping these phenomena. For instance, Block et al [4] wrote that 'we know very little about factors that contribute to collaboration and learning around interactive surfaces' (p. 867).…”

“…This seems much more difficult for empirical problems, for which arguments about transfer are found in only a few studies. Confidence for the solution is addressed in multiple ways, including conducting several studies [7,24,48,50], using large samples [4], performing long-term follow-up [13], and reporting on implementation [13,44]. The sample covers this aspect quite well.…”

“…For instance, Menking and Erickson [33] studied the work of women on Wikipedia, noting how 'Wikipedia's gender gap may relate to prevailing feeling rules or participation strategies; at the same time this work contributes to advancing Hochschild's theory of emotions work […]' (p. 208). Some papers also describe implications for research methodology [4] and modelling [7,51].…”