User Experience of Markerless Augmented Reality Applications in Cultural Heritage Museums: ‘MuseumEye’ as a Case Study

Abstract

This paper explores the User Experience (UX) of Augmented Reality applications in museums. UX as a concept is vital to effective visual communication and interpretation in museums, and to enhance usability during a museum tour. In the project 'MuseumEye', the augmentations generated were localized based on a hybrid system that combines of (SLAM) markerless tracking technology and the indoor Beacons or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). These augmentations include a combination of multimedia content and different levels of visual information that required for museum visitors. Using mobile devices to pilot this application, we developed a UX design model that has the ability to evaluate the user experience and usability of the application. This paper focuses on the multidisciplinary outcomes of the project from both a technical and museological perspective based on public responses. A field evaluation of the AR system was conducted after the UX model considered. Twenty-six participants were recruited in Leeds museum and another twenty participants in the Egyptian museum in Cairo. Results showed positive responses on experiencing the system after adopting the UX design model. This study contributes on synthesizing a UX design model for AR applications to reach the optimum levels of user interaction required that reflects ultimately on the entire museum experience.

Review of Implementation of Augmented Reality into the Georeferenced Analogue and Digital Maps and Images

“…Another quality, showing the advantage of such a system, is an emergent phenomenon rising from the quality of the paper map, that is, created and prepared by authorized and qualified professionals (cartographers), which is used to synthetize and generalize spatial information in the form of a cartographic map and aims at the non-professionals helping them to undertake their spatial decisions, targeting their movements, directions, or perception of detailed location features or values. This conclusion has also been confirmed by studies of the use AR in tourism, which revealed that the user experience (UX) is formed by the correlation of AR system features and the perceptions and experience of tourists [33], both in urban heritage areas (outdoor) and inside buildings (indoor) [34].…”

Study of the Learning Performance and User Experience of the Interactive Systems of the Catavento Cultural Museum

“…In recent years, emphasis has been placed on the construction of interactive museum systems [3,4,5,6,17,18). Many of these systems place visitors in a constructive process where they are faced with several possible paths and learning possibilities [19].…”

“…Such systems provide innovative ways of learning in order to generate pleasure and satisfaction in your visitors. Several systems allow 3D visualization including applications running on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality systems [3,5]. These technologies combine, to a large extent, entertainment, education and learning.…”

“…The study contributes to synthesize a UX design model for AR applications to achieve the optimal levels of user interaction required, which ultimately reflect the entire museum experience [5].…”

“…The expectations of the millennium generation in particular, following the latest technological innovations, are driving museums to a technological dependency with unpredictable consequences [1]. Using multimedia technologies and supported by social media, visitors move from passive learning consumers to active learning consumers, where they participate as co-authors in a learning process [4,5,6].…”