Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Treasure codes: augmenting learning from physical museum exhibits through treasure hunting

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Personal and Ubiquitous Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous studies have highlighted the difficulty that designers face in creating mobile museum guides to enhance small group experiences. In this paper, we report a study exploring the potential of mobile visual recognition technology (Artcodes) to improve users’ experiences in a visitor centre. A prototype mobile guide in the form of a treasure hunt was developed and evaluated by means of a field study comparing this technology with the existing personal guided tour. The results reveal a preference for the mobile guide amongst participants and show significant learning gains from pre-test to post-test compared with the pre-existing personal tour. Our observational analyses indicate how the mobile guide can be used to improve visitors’ learning experiences by supporting active discovery and by balancing physical and digital interactions. We further expand the concept of design trajectories to consider micro-scaffolding as a way of understanding and designing future public technologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Albertini A, Brunelli R, Stock, O, Zancanaro M (2005) Communicating user’s focus of attention by image processing as input for a mobile museum guide. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, pp 299–301

  2. Bannon L, Benford S, Bowers J, Heath C (2005) Hybrid design creates innovative museum experiences. Commun ACM 48(3):62–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Benford S, Bederson B, Åkesson K, Bayon V, Druin A, Hansson P, Hourcade J, Ingram R, Neale H, O’Malley C, Simsarian K, Stanton D, Sundblad Y, Taxén G (2000) Designing storytelling technologies to encourage collaboration between young children. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 556–563

  4. Benford S, Giannachi G, Koleva B, Rodden T (2009) From interaction to trajectories: designing coherent journeys through user experiences. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 709–718

  5. Benford S, Hazzard A, Xu L (2015) The Carolan guitar: a thing that tells its own life story. Interactions 22(3):64–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Broll G, Reithmeier W, Holleis P, Wagner M (2010) Design and evaluation of techniques for mobile interaction with dynamic NFC-displays. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, pp 205–212

  7. Bodén M, Dekker A, Viller S, Matthews B (2013) Augmenting play and learning in the primary classroom. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, pp 228–236

  8. Boletsis C, McCallum S (2013) The Table Mystery: an augmented reality collaborative game for chemistry education. Serious Games Development and Applications - Lecture Notes in Computer Science 8101, Springer, pp 86–95

  9. Chen P, Liu X, Cheng W, Huang R (2017) A review of using Augmented Reality in Education from 2011 to 2016. Innovations in Smart Learning - Lecture Notes in Educational Technology, pp 13–18

  10. Coenen T, Mostmans L, Naessens K (2013) MuseUs: case study of a pervasive cultural heritage serious game. Computing and Cultural Heritage, 6, 2, Article 8 (May 2013)

  11. Cosley D, Baxter J, Lee S, Alson B, Nomura S, Adams P, Sarabu C, Gay G (2009) A tag in the hand: supporting semantic, social, and spatial navigation in museums. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 1953–1962

  12. Costanza E, Huang J (2009) Designable visual markers. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 1879–1888

  13. De Freitas S, Oliver M (2006) How can exploratory learning with games and simulations within the curriculum be most effectively evaluated? Computers and Education 46(3):249–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Dini R, Paternò F, Santoro C (2007) An environment to support multi-user interaction and cooperation for improving museum visits through games. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Human Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services, pp 515–521

  15. Downey S, Krantz A, Skidmore E (2010) The parental role in children’s museums. Museums & Social Issues 5(1):15–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ferris K, Bannon L, Ciolfi L, Gallagher P, Hall T, Lennon M (2004) Shaping experiences in the Hunt museum: a design case study. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Designing Interactive Systems, pp 205–214

  17. Fetter M, Beckmann C, Gross T (2014) MagnetiCode: physical mobile interaction through time-encoded magnetic identification tags. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction, pp 205–212

  18. FitzGerald E, Adams A, Ferguson R, Gaved M, Mor Y, Thomas R (2012) Augmented reality and mobile learning: the state of the art. In: CEUR Workshop Proceedings, 955, pp 62–69

  19. Fosh L, Benford S, Reeves S, Koleva B, Brundell P (2013) See me, feel me, touch me, hear me: trajectories and interpretation in a sculpture garden. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 149–158

  20. Hao T, Zhou R, Xing G (2012) COBRA: color barcode streaming for smartphone systems. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications, and Services, pp 85–98

  21. Hazzard A, Benford S, Burnett G (2015) Sculpting a mobile musical soundtrack. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 387–396

  22. Heath C, Vom Lehn D, Osborne J (2005) Interaction and interactives: collaboration and participation with computer-based exhibits. Public Underst Sci 14(1):91–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hoang T, Reinoso M, Joukhadar Z, Vetere F, Kelly D (2017) Augmented studio: projection mapping on moving body for physiotherapy education. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 1419–1430

  24. Liarokapis F, de Freitas S (2010) A case study of augmented reality serious games. In: Ebner, M. and Schiefner, M. (eds), Looking Toward the Future of Technology-Enhanced Education: Ubiquitous Learning and the Digital Native. IGI Global, pp.178–191

  25. O’Hara K, Kindberg T, Glancy M, Baptista L, Sukumaran B, Kahana G, Rowbotham J (2007) Collecting and sharing location-based content on mobile phones in a zoo visitor experience. Comput Supported Coop Work 16(15):11–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Meese R, Ali S, Thorne E, Benford S, Quinn A, Mortier R, Koleva B, Pridmore T, Baurley S (2013) From codes to patterns: designing interactive decoration for tableware. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 931–940

  27. Rosner D, Ikemiya M, Regan T (2015) Resisting alignment: code and clay. In: Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, pp 181–188

  28. Schmid M, Rümelin S, Richter H (2013). Empowering materiality: inspiring the design of tangible interactions. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction, pp 91–98

  29. Swartz M, Crowley K (2004) Parent belief about teaching and learning in a children’s museum. Visitor Studies Today 7(2):1–16

    Google Scholar 

  30. Thian C (2012) Augmented reality—what reality can we learn from it? Museums and the Web 2012. https://www.museumsandtheweb.com/mw2012/papers/augmented_reality_what_reality_can_we_learn_fr. Accessed 1Sept. 2017

  31. Tsaknaki V, Fernaeus Y, Schaub M (2014) Leather as a material for crafting interactive and physical artifacts. In: Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Designing Interactive Systems, pp 5–14

  32. Van Eck R (2006) Digital game-based learning: it’s not just the digital natives who are restless. Educause Review, pp 16–30

  33. Vom Lehn D, Heath C, Hindmarsh J (2001) Exhibiting interaction: conduct and collaboration in museums and galleries. Symb Interact 24(2):189–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wakkary R, Hatala M, Muise K, Tanenbaum K, Corness G, Mohabbati B, Budd J (2009) Kurio: a museum guide for families. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction, pp 215–222

  35. Wein L (2014) Visual recognition in museum guide apps: do visitors want it? In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp 635–638

  36. Wolf B, Wood E (2012) Integrating scaffolding experiences for the youngest visitors in museums. Journal of Museum Education 37(1):29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Wyeth P, Smith H, Ng K, Fitzpatrick G, Luckin R, Walker K, Good J, Underwood J, Benford S (2008) Learning through treasure hunting: the role of mobile devices. Proceedings of the IADIS Conference on Mobile Learning, In, pp 27–34

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was carried out in collaboration with Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. We thank Professor Steve Benford and Dr. Timothy Brailsford for their useful suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

    Kher Hui Ng & Hai Huang

  2. Department of Psychology, Durham University, Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    Claire O’Malley

Authors
  1. Kher Hui Ng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hai Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Claire O’Malley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kher Hui Ng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ng, K.H., Huang, H. & O’Malley, C. Treasure codes: augmenting learning from physical museum exhibits through treasure hunting. Pers Ubiquit Comput 22, 739–750 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-018-1126-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-018-1126-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation