BRIEF 1: TECHNIQUEST (edited -approx 900 wds)

ASSIGNMENT 1: TECHNIQUEST
ASSESSMENT: BRIEF 1
TECHNIQUEST

NAME: VIVIEN VAN DER SANDT
ST NO 06003781
viviensandt@yahoo.co.uk

9 October 2006

Mapping Music:
Exploring a ‘touch screen’ that utilises alternating current

Science-discovery centre Techniquest provided a range of Human Computer Interaction devices to choose from. Since the Personal Project I hope to do later this year entails using a world map for an interactive, educational game, I looked at several examples of how Techniquest had used the world map in HCI. Techniquest exhibits of interest in this regard included the Pangaea Puzzle (which demonstrates continental drift and features tectonic plates floating on compressed air); the Geocron (an electric clock that moves a world map slowly across the screen, showing time zones - the countries in the lit-up area are at that moment experiencing daylight); and the World Music exhibit. I explored in depth the World Music exhibit, as it seems closest to what I may want to do with my Project.

At first appearance, the World Music exhibit is a large, flat board (240cm across and 120cm high) featuring a map of the world (oval shaped). The map is flanked by two monitors with buttons, left and right of where the User stands. Two headphones hang from hooks. Text on the monitor indicates what the User should do to activate the display: headphones need to be donned, the puck (akin to a stethoscope, attached to the headphones) needs to be placed anywhere on the map. Then the traditional music of the country touched on may be heard through the headphones. (The music of only 63 countries - out of the 190-odd countries of the world – is featured). When the User has activated a recording, a written, explanatory piece about the music/country appears on one of the monitors.

The monitors have four selection buttons, taking the User into: (Top Left) The introduction/Instructions to the exhibit; (Top Right) language preference – English/Welsh; (Bottom Left) a category labelled Why Science (which explains the science behind the exhibit); and lastly, the Bottom Right button, which takes the User into a category headed Why Music (more information on world music)

The aim of the device is twofold: to provide a cultural and geographic experience/ education regarding traditional music styles from all over the world, and secondly (in line with Techniquest’s raison d’etre) to illustrate a scientific/technological principle. In terms of Techniquest’s aims, it hopes to present these in a fun but at the same time educational way.

In this exhibit, the scientific principle being illustrated is that of transformers and alternating current. (As mentioned earlier, the User can learn about the science by selecting the Why Science button). It is explained that the headphones are connected to a half transformer (or puck). The puck is made up of a coil of wire around a core of silicon steel which can be magnetised and demagnetised. Behind the world map are 63 similar half transformers (as explained, there are 63 music snippets), each with alternating current flowing in the coils. Each alternating current comes from a recording of music. The User gets the alternating current in the coil and hears the music.

I observed several problems which suggested that the target audience and the aims of the exhibit had not been entirely thought through. The first problem is, who was it aimed at? Techniquest (as staff member Sue Cavell explained to the group) is aimed at young children. In addition to being accessible in terms of content, the exhibits’ designers have to consider the proportions of the human body – as exhibits, of course, also have to be physically accessed (reachable buttons, visible screens, and so on). In terms of dimensions, Techniquest hardware is designed with a 12-year-old in mind, taking that as a median size between child and adult. But here the World Music exhibit is problematical, as in terms of placement (37cm above the floor, making the map about torso level for an adult) the display seems aimed at children. However, the dimensions across (240 cm) are unrealistic, as a child would not be able to see the monitors unless s/he is standing at the far right or far left of the map. (Even I, as a shortish adult, could not read the text on the monitors at all times – therefore missing out on reading about the music of countries placed centrally on the map. Bear in mind, one has to keep the puck in place to keep the text displayed on the monitor, so one cannot move left or right to read a monitor).

Is the exhibit trying to be a bit of everything for everyone, for instance a child may be satisfied with hearing a musical snippet, while an adult would like to hear the music AND read the text? My finding is, having watched public interaction, that not many people were drawn to it. (In fact not even my classmates, until I called one over and tested him on it – at which he was so taken by it, that he decided to make it the subject of his assignment!). The only time I saw the exhibit being used (in about five hours of observation, as I was there for two afternoons) was when a mother demonstrated it to her two children. World Music does seem to be rather a ‘Starbucks crowd’ interest (that is metropolitan adults). Is this display aimed at the adults who accompany the children? In that case the dimensions (specifically the height) need to be changed. The exhibit utilises an interesting, fun idea but my feeling was that it could have been so much better presented if a few changes were made. The problems I observed, and my suggestions for redesign, will be discussed in Assignment 2.