Designing Digital Rails to Foster Scientific Curiosity Around Museum Collections

• In Event: 18.071 - Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: 18.071-18 - Learning in Museum Settings

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate how interactive technology can be used to foster visitor curiosity and engagement around the authentic artifacts and specimens that make up museum collections. In this preliminary collaborative project between a natural history museum and a university, we have been investigating an interactive technology that we call digital rails, which are interactive computer displays mounted on exhibit case railings that serve a similar function to traditional static labels. The original digital rails were redesigned to highlight questions about the objects as a way to foster curiosity. Results indicate that the redesigned version led to great capture and dwell times than the original.

Authors

• Steven McGee, The Learning Partnership

• Jessica Roberts, Carnegie Mellon University

• Amartya Banerjee, Northwestern University

• Eureka Foon, Northwestern University

• Matthew Matcuk, The Field Museum

• Michael S. Horn, Northwestern University