Designing Effective Exhibits Using World Wide Web-based Technologies

Transcription

1 Designing Effective Exhibits Using World Wide Web-based Technologies ASTC Conference, October 26, 1996 Paul M. Helfrich, Ph.D. The Franklin Institute Science Museum Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 1

2 How do I define exhibit design? From a variety of perspectives: Our Customer (User) Instructional Designer (Content Developer) Graphic Designer (labels, panels, computer screens) Exhibit Designer (3D / Space Designer) Evaluator (front end, formative, summative) Exhibit Support Technicians (Maintenance) Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 2

3 What is the CyberZone Exhibit? sq. ft. exhibit opening 1/17/97 at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, Philadelphia, PA an introduction to the Internet for families and school groups four primary areas: introduction (2 kiosks / Panels) Internet surf stations (13 kiosks) communication - chat, , homepage (6 kiosks) Albert M. Greenfield Cutting Edge Gallery Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 3

4 The Happy User Perspective attract power - looks cool, I ll try it. holding power - it is cool, I like it! take-aways - meeting educational goals Aha! Now I understand how xyz works. the user is now motivated to find out more on the topic or concept post-visit Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 4

5 The Unhappy User Perspective attract power - looks cool, I ll try it. holding power - how the $#!@! does this thing work? It s too slow, boring! Too much text, boring! I m hungry, etc. take-aways - unhappy users rarely get to this point. Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 5

6 The Instructional Designer Perspective hypermedia design vs. linear computer exhibit design issues: depth - no more than three levels vs. infinite web surfing navigational cues - hyperlink colors, button shape / size / location, start, back, stop, help commands home page - point of departure and return, table of contents Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 6

7 The Instructional Designer Perspective defining educational goals for exhibits: define audience - family groups? school groups? single user? define content age level - beginner, intermediate, advanced vs. K-12, adult define educational goals in writing! e.g. the user will explore one or two concepts, things, processes, etc. Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 7

8 The Instructional Designer Perspective instructional design strategies: labels, content panels close-captioned video segments interpretive staff support take-aways - print outs, brochures pre-visit, post-visit info available on local web site = new opportunities! Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 8

9 The Instructional Designer Perspective computer interface design issues: primary goal = make transparent to user! attract power / holding power instructional labels - online vs. hard copy color selections - color blindness in 10% of male population (red on green) video / screen font resolution - is it readable? screen button size = an adult thumb Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 9

10 The Instructional Designer Perspective hypermedia web design issues: the museum floor is often a noisy, distracting environment text-based, graphics enhanced book vs. multimedia enhanced (video, sound, graphics, text, animation) video game Grades K - 5 are very visual and aural, don t spend time reading on the museum floor Grades 6 - Adult don t read as much either, but will if it s interesting Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 10

11 The Instructional Designer Perspective browser issues for exhibit surf stations: functionality - frames, java, colors, tables, HTML 3.2, 2.0, 1.0 compatible plugins to support various new media (realaudio, shockwave, quicktimevr, etc.) home page button - user orientation and navigation kiosk mode - no user access to operating system Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 11

12 The Instructional Designer Perspective other technical issues: unsavory material filter (Surfwatch, others) pornography, hate-speech, criminal activities, illicit drugs, racism access speed <1 second response time, touch screen vs. mouse / keyboard proxy server - local cache of most frequently used sites auto time-out feature - return to attract screen Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 12

13 The Graphic Designer Perspective traditional 3D space design issues: readable color combinations readable font sizes and combinations sizing images all the above support educational goals Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 13

14 The Graphic Designer Perspective custom web page issues: hyperlink traditional colors blue = unvisited, purple = visited new hyperlink color schemes??? = unvisited,??? = visited speed rules! <30K size limit per graphic <60K for the entire page! Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 14

15 The Exhibit Designer Perspective floor space issues: visitor flow - disparate experiences vs. a guided, thematic tour what is the visitor capacity in the space? is there adequate ventilation? adequate lighting / shading? (the sun is a dynamic light source) sound design - sound cones vs.!#@$! Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 15

16 The Exhibit Designer Perspective kiosk design issues: ergonomics, human actors, ease of use is your user(s) standing or sitting? wheel chair accessible? visually related to rest of the space? integration with graphic treatments Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 16

17 The Exhibit Designer Perspective kiosk design issues: adequate ventilation for computers & monitors access for support technicians cable labels hardware schematic inside kiosks wire / cable management - network connections, power, mouse, speakers Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 17

18 Summary Good hypermedia exhibit design is defined by our customer = the User Instructional, Graphic, Exhibit Designer, Evaluator, Support Technicians all work together in creating effective exhibit design Hypermedia vs. traditional linear computer design; the WWW opens a new chapter for museums... Designing Effective Exhibits Using WWW-based Technologies 18