Evaluating an Urban Installation - User Engagement, Shared Encounters and Spatial Influence
Authors
Jacobsen, Bo ; Uggerhøj, Rune Lundegaard ; Søgaard, Adam Kjær
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-28
Pages
13
Abstract
This thesis examines how a digitally augmented, playful urban installation influences user engagement, shared encounters, and spatial dynamics in a public setting. Grounded in Smart/Playable Cities and principles of universal design, the authors created an instrumental, sound-based installation inspired by a pan flute that uses visual and auditory lures and touch input. Its impact was evaluated through an in the wild deployment over three days (19 hours total), during which 263 instances of use in groups of varying sizes were recorded. The analysis combined measurements of flow interference with observations of user behavior using established engagement categories (active participation/exploration and passive exploration/observation), alongside attention to group use and spontaneous encounters. Findings indicate that the recognizable form and adaptive interaction modes made the installation moderately intuitive and accessible; groups were more likely to engage; 13.56% of passers-by interacted at some level; and the installation non-obstructively influenced movement patterns for up to 17% of passers-by. Further iterations that better align interaction modes with perceived affordances are likely to increase effectiveness. The work also demonstrates a practical approach to designing and evaluating HCI-based public installations.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan en digitalt forstærket, legende byinstallation påvirker brugerengagement, fælles møder og den rumlige dynamik i et offentligt område. Med afsæt i Smart/Playable Cities og principper for universelt design udviklede forfatterne en instrumentel, lydbaseret installation inspireret af en panfløjte, der anvender visuelle og auditive lures samt berøring som input. Installationens effekt blev undersøgt gennem en in the wild-afprøvning over tre dage (i alt 19 timer), hvor 263 brugssituationer i grupper af varierende størrelse blev registreret. Analysen kombinerede målinger af flowinterferens med observationer af brugeradfærd via etablerede engagements-kategorier (aktiv deltagelse/eksploration og passiv eksploration/observation) samt fokus på gruppebrug og spontane møder. Resultaterne peger på, at den genkendelige form og adaptive interaktionsmåder gjorde installationen moderat intuitiv og tilgængelig; grupper var mere tilbøjelige til at engagere sig; i alt interagerede 13,56% af forbipasserende i en eller anden grad; og installationen påvirkede ikke-obstruktivt bevægelsesmønstre for op til 17% af forbipasserende. Yderligere iteration, der bedre afstemmer interaktionsmåder med de oplevede affordanser, forventes at kunne øge effekten. Arbejdet demonstrerer samtidig en praktisk tilgang til design og evaluering af HCI-baserede offentlige installationer.
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