Usability Testing of Mobile Augmented Applications for Cultural Heritage – A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the existing literature to date regarding the usability testing of Mobile Augmented Reality applications developed for cultural heritage. A Systematic Literature Review was conducted with this purpose. Four databases were interrogated with specific keywords. Our of the 88 found research papers, only 31 met the eligibility criteria to be included in this survey. Four major usability testing methods were identified: questionnaires, focus groups, user testing and interviews. The questionnaire method was used in almost all of the studies, and only a few of them combined more usability testing methods. Nearly all papers targeted the outdoors use centered on location-based augmented reality. The perceived ease of use, usefulness and enjoyment were confirmed by a majority of the papers. The ease of use was also correlated to the ease of learning, as well as with the interest of using the application. Cultural heritage is one of the domains that can benefit greatly from the latest improvements in mobile augmented reality technologies.

Educación Patrimonial y aplicaciones de Arqueología Virtual en museos y yacimientos arqueológicos

“…Este es el caso, por ejemplo, del trabajo pionero del proyecto ARCHEOGUIDE (Vlahakis et al, 2001) donde, tras su aplicación en el yacimiento griego de Olimpia, se sintetiza el resultado de un cuestionario en el que se verifica la buena recepción de los usuarios a este sistema, especialmente en el público joven. En otras contribuciones sobre Realidad Aumentada se desarrollan planteamientos y resultados similares (Cinotti et al, 2004;Galatis et al, 2016;Tiriteu & Vert 2020;Cisternino et al, 2021). Cabe destacar el análisis de la aplicación móvil de Realidad Aumentada multisensorial empleada en el yacimiento romano de Conimbriga (Portugal), que evidencia el valor añadido que ofrece la tecnología de Realidad Aumentada para la difusión del patrimonio arqueológico con una amplia aceptación por parte del de las personas usuarias (Marto et al, 2016;Marto & Gonçalves, 2019).…”

User Evaluation of a Multi-Platform Digital Storytelling Concept for Cultural Heritage

“…These complex digital products have been evaluated in a multi-platform setting, i.e., touchscreen table, desktop/laptop, mobile, and Augmented Reality. The user evaluation followed a mixed methods approach, to respond to the stringent need for multiple platform evaluation and comprehensive user testing [1]. Spotlight Heritage is a multi-annual project and from our previous evaluation and use cases, we identified that users navigate seamlessly between different platforms-they might initiate it online, on the website, then move and continue the exploration on the mobile app, go and visit the physical exhibition and use the interactive display, or visit one of the landmarks in location and use the augmented reality app.…”