templeton le 2011

Upload: liam-templeton

Post on 04-Apr-2018

237 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    1/43

    The Use of QR codes as a means ofmonitoring user preference andnavigation in the Hunterian Zoologymuseum.

    TitleLiam Templeton

    0704913

    Prof. Roderic Page

    University of Glasgow

    1

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    2/43

    Abstract! 2...........................................................................................................................Introduction! 3

    ..........................................................................................The Current Role of Museums! 3..................................................................Previous Attempts to Monitor User Navigation! 5

    .........................................................................................................................QR Codes! 7...........................................................................................................Aims & Hypotheses! 8

    ................................................................................................................................Methods! 9..............................................................................................Specimen for Consideration! 9

    ...............................................................................................Establishing Web Content! 10....................................................................................................Generating QR Codes! 11

    ...........................................................................Preparing the System for General Use! 11............................................................................................................Collection of Data! 12

    ................................................................................................................................Results! 13...........................................................................................................................Devices! 13

    ......................................................................................................................Preference! 15.......................................................................................................................Navigation! 20

    ..........................................................................................................................Discussion! 27..................................................................................................Devices & IP addresses! 27......................................................................................................................Preference! 28.......................................................................................................................Navigation! 29

    ........................................................................................Improvements for Further Use! 34....................................................................................................................Museum 2.0! 35

    ..........................................................................................................................Conclusion! 37..............................................................................................................Acknowledgments! 37

    .......................................................................................................................Bibliography! 38.........................................................................................................................Websites! 39

    .............................................................................................................................Appendix! 40

    Abstract

    Museums have held a high standard of cultural and scientific significance for centuries.

    First serving as a store by which specimen of all descriptions could be catalogued and

    studied and secondarily as a platform for public outreach and the communication of

    science. In a rapidly changing environment where the importance of natural resources

    are often overlooked in place of human development the purpose of institutions such

    as the Hunterian zoology museum can be considered instrumental in their influence on

    individuals and how they consider the natural world. Current museum displays are

    limited as to the amount of information they are able to display and unable to

    accommodate new scientific discoveries. Digitally stored information may serve as a

    possible solution although the use of technology may represent a large investment on

    2

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    3/43

    the part of the museum which is often open to abuse. By incorporating a system which

    employs the use of user owned technology it could act to alleviate any such

    investment. This study explores the use of quick response (QR) codes as a cost

    effective means to accommodate a digital system made available for internet enabled

    mobile devices (i.e. smartphones) in the hope to offer a more rewarding and

    interactive experience to visitors while at the same time establishing a means by which

    to monitor and track user navigation and preference.

    Introduction

    The Current Role of Museums

    Museums of Natural History perhaps more so than any other represent a platform not

    only for public outreach and education but for the study and exploration of biological

    systems and diversity (Winker, 2004). Historically this mission could be considered the

    primary role of museums of this nature though as natural sciences progressed with the

    synthesis of Darwinian modes of thought this too ushered an interest in public

    involvement and observation. This is perhaps most apparent in the Natural History

    Museum in London which was only made publicly accessible in 1881 (Stearn,1981), to

    which Bill Bryson commented "by making the Natural History Museum an institution for

    everyone, Owen transformed our expectations of what museums are for" (Bryson,

    2004). This relates to the idea that it may function not only for the pursuit of a further

    3

    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    4/43

    understanding of the natural world but also to promote an active interest in those that

    might otherwise not be aware of such phenomena. An outreach program such as this is

    as vital now more than ever as fewer considerations are given to the state of our

    natural resources in favour of the proliferation of further human development. Where

    schools fail to it falls on the shoulders of public education in the media and through

    institutions like museums to captivate the imaginations of the public in order to help

    cultivate an interest in the hope to effectively direct action toward the understanding

    and conservation of the natural world. Perhaps in doing so a revision in the way that

    museums are operated is required where visitor participation is favoured over curatorial

    authority (Simon, 2007b).

    Through the design of more creative means to communicate information to members of

    the public curatorial staff can hope to more effectively convey themes in biology to

    visitors. One limiting factor in the designing of museum exhibits is the nature of content

    which should be included. Typically one can expect a wide range of visitors from

    differing educational backgrounds and institutions such as this should aim to not

    alienate any potential visitor. Displays should be relevant and informative but not so

    challenging so to exclude any demographic or individual. This in itself may pose

    somewhat of a challenge as the space in which such information is displayed is often

    restricted. Another potential challenge that exists is that visitors may feel intimidated if

    confronted by large bodies of text, and so may be less likely to retain any information

    they are faced with (McManus, 1989). One way to overcome this challenge would be to

    host a digital source of information which would then allow visitors to selectively view

    that which interests them most. In doing so it is hoped that a wider audience be

    reached with the inclusion of interactive forms of media. However criticisms do exist in

    that some forms of interactive technologies are thought to detract from the true nature

    of the object and so limiting the overall appeal of that exhibit (Fleming, 2005). Doing so

    would also require some investment in order to install and maintain the required

    technologies, which may at first seem unattractive on the part of the institution. By

    4

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    5/43

    facilitating the use of user owned technology we can hope to alleviate any financial

    investment or personal intrusion a system such as this would otherwise pose.

    Another challenge in curating exhibits of this nature is that our knowledge of that which

    is put on display is constantly being challenged by advancements in the field. This

    could perhaps be said to be occurring more rapidly than in any other discipline.

    Because of this some areas of content may be found to be outdated shortly after being

    put on display. As few institutions have the resources to revise displays on a regular

    basis, at least not at the rate at which new discoveries are made, it would appear as

    though there is a need for a more adaptable platform on which content can be hosted.

    Such a platform might easily be facilitated by the establishment of a digital resource on

    which content could be hosted. The nature of which would mean that updating displays

    would require as little action as editing a block of text. This would act to ensure that the

    content provided was relevant and current and may even pose as an opportunity to

    include user generated content, a concept which will be explored later in this study.

    Previous Attempts to Monitor User Navigation

    A major frontier in the study of museums is that of visitor behaviour. By understanding

    the processes by which visitors navigate throughout a museum curators, and those

    involved in the design of museum displays, can then use this information to design

    future exhibitions that relate to the patterns of interest expressed by any key

    demographic. The current means of doing so may seem largely restricted to

    assumptions made based on visual observations. The use of closed circuit television

    systems may pose a suitable aid in doing so though the analysis of the footage

    retrieved might prove to be incredibly tedious to say the least. Multiple attempts have

    since been made by inferring the use of sophisticated technologies and advanced

    statistical modeling to predict visitor interest (Bohnert et al, 2009). However in doing so

    it may also pose further complications and uncertainties to an already poorly explored

    area of research.

    5

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    6/43

    One such attempt of doing involved the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID)

    whereby visitors were provided with passive RFID tags to be worn throughout the

    duration of their visi (Baldwin & Kuriakose, 2009). Exhibits were then coupled with an

    antenna for the purpose of receiving data relating to visitor proximity and navigation.

    Though arguably discrete the process of distributing and then recollecting RFID tags to

    and from each individual visitor may seem inappropriate in that it is directly invading

    that persons privacy. If confronted by an alien device visitors may feel intimidated and

    prone to unnatural behaviour (Simon, 2009). A system such as this also poses

    somewhat of a financial risk in that if not properly monitored the devices may then be

    open to abuse. While RFID tags themselves are said to be relatively inexpensive for

    this purpose this might still be considered an unnecessary investment for a permanent

    installation.

    This too can be resolved by employing the use of user owned technology. Mobile

    phones carry features that would allow for the use in monitoring user navigation. The

    function of which may be passive by making use of bluetooth identification by other

    bluetooth devices fixed to exhibits. This would rely heavily on the assumption that

    users would have bluetooth enabled on their device, the likelihood of which might not

    be very high being that its function has been somewhat subsided by more advanced

    wireless technologies. Other more active means of employing the use of user owned

    devices might on the surface appear intrusive and require some form of activity on the

    part of the user. Under this assumption a user would have to actively view an exhibit

    using their device for it to be recognised by the system. A way to influence a visitor to

    do so might be to offer some form of incentive. In the case of this study that incentive

    can be thought of as the prospect of gaining access to exclusive web hosted content

    and supplementary information. Actively viewing an exhibit can be thought of in terms

    of accessing the content using an internet enabled device. In order for this to be

    effective the delivery of such content would have to be almost seamless. In this case a

    means of doing so is facilitated by the use of quick response (QR) codes.

    6

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    7/43

    QR Codes

    QR codes are two-dimensional images that can be generated to encode information

    readable by remote devices. Unlike bar codes which are limited to encoding numerical

    data QR codes can be made to represent letters and other symbols. This feature

    makes them attractive for use in a number of practical applications. First developed by

    Denso-wave in 1994 for use in the car manufacturing industry their purpose was mainly

    that of a logistical tool (www.denso-wave.com). Since then they have been adopted for

    numerous uses. With the advancement of mobile devices a more commercial use has

    become available to explore. The nature of the codes and their ability to directly link

    information to mobile devices almost instantaneously has made them attractive for use

    in fields such as advertising and public relations. Poster and television advertisements

    are now commonly coupled with codes relating viewers and observers to

    supplementary information hosted online. It seems only natural that they would be

    adapted for use in museums and throughout the public education sector to better

    enrich the experience of visitors in a way that is discrete and poses little financial

    implications on the part of the institution.

    More recently a recreational use of QR codes has begun to be explored. One such

    exploration is a concept proposed by the website Tales of Things whereby users are

    encouraged to generate and contribute online content relating to physical objects that

    bear some significance to them. These objects are then coupled with a QR code so

    that others who encounter them in real life can be made aware of any interesting

    aspects of that objects history and personal significance. This idea supports the

    concept of participation (Simon, 2007a) whereby including user generated content

    related to previous experiences and knowledge of that object we can seek to establish

    a forum of content which is not limited to that dictated by the curatorial staff but which

    relates to visitors on all levels of interest, and in doing so collapsing the telescopic

    nature of public interest and education.

    7

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    8/43

    Another example of this type is that of the website and mobile application My Personal

    Tour (www.mypersonaltour.com) where people are invited to curate personal tours of

    sorts which can then be subscribed to by users for free via their mobile devices using a

    downloadable application. This also facilitates the use of QR codes as a means to

    easily and effectively relate digitally stored information to physical objects but also has

    been extrapolated for use in outside tours by employing the use of in-device global

    positioning systems (GPS). In this system users are prompted to view a building or

    object of interest by push notification when in close proximity to that building or object

    and then supplied with information relating to that site. The use of QR codes in this

    case is thought to be necessary where GPS is unavailable (i.e. in a closed building).

    This method fully supports the idea of user participation in that all content is user

    generated and so allows the construction of tours tailored specifically for varying levels

    of interest (Borggrewe, 2009). One limitation is that currently the MyTour mobile

    application is currently limited for use with Apple devices only.

    Some of these concepts were briefly outlined in an article featured in New Scientist

    (Giles, 2010) in which the idea of employing the use of QR codes in museums by

    curators was put forward, though to my knowledge has yet to have been implemented

    in a way similar to that outlined in this study. The MyTour application was released via

    the Apple app store in December 2010 and so was not suitable for use in the

    development or the execution of this study.

    Aims & Hypotheses

    The aim of this experiment is to integrate a digital system into the current collection of

    the Hunterian zoology museum, the purpose of which is to provide a more engaging

    and ultimately rewarding experience for the user and to allow the passive collection of

    information relating to user navigation and display preference. In doing so it is hoped

    that user information can be tracked in a way that might prove useful for the design of

    future museum exhibits relating to apparent user interest. A null hypothesis can be

    thought of in that there is no observable bias of display preference or typical navigation

    8

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    9/43

    subscribed to by visitors. The alternative being that there is an observable bias of

    display preference or typical navigation subscribed to by visitors, the nature of which is

    hoped to be explored throughout the process of this study.

    Methods

    Specimen for Consideration

    For the purpose of this experiment a group of exhibits were selected from within the

    current collection at the Hunterian zoology museum at the University of Glasgow. A set

    of 24 museum specimen was established. This number was considered appropriate to

    give a sample size of adequate statistical integrity and manageability. Also taken into

    consideration was that the sample size be of a sufficient number to ensure that the

    specimen included would not simply be considered a novelty by the visitors, but not so

    many that making content for each would become laborious and unmanageable. When

    selecting specimen to be included in the study certain considerations were taken into

    account. These considerations included various aspects of the biology of the specimen

    (i.e. taxonomy and geographic distribution), the nature both of the display and the

    specimen and the relative position of that exhibit in the museum. It was desirable that

    the set included an even number of specimen of each description. This consideration

    was given in the hope that the data collected could be extrapolated to pertain to various

    aspects of user navigation and to some extent preference. In practise this hope was

    somewhat confounded by an existing bias in the museum collection in that it features a

    disproportionate number of mammals and birds than it does amphibians and reptiles

    9

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    10/43

    etc. With this in mind it was decided that the most important aspect of selection be that

    which considers the spatial distribution of specimen throughout the museum, and that

    any other aspect be considered but only of secondary importance. A complete list of

    the exhibits that were included is included in the appendix.

    Establishing Web Content

    Once the set was confirmed a series of online content was required with a page

    relating to each of the specimen included. A format for the web page was established

    with each page featuring the name of the specimen (both common and binomial), an

    image of a specimen of the same species, a paragraph of text relating to that animals

    biology, information relating to that animals taxonomic classification and a map

    outlining the distribution of that animal. All images and the basis for text were taken

    from Wikipedia. Maps were taken from the IUCN red list where available, and

    otherwise illustrated onto a blank map based on information from the same source.

    It was recognised that content sourced primarily from Wikipedia was perhaps not

    entirely suitable for use in a museum but also that for the purpose of this experiment it

    could be considered a fair compromise. This was justified by the point that the content

    could be considered to be secondary to the function of the system and that the system

    itself was intended to act as a pilot study on various aspects of the use and

    functionality of the system. If such a system was to be adapted for a more permanent

    use then it was appreciated that a higher level of content would be required.

    Construction of the pages was done using the application TextWrangler for Macintosh

    computers. A universal theme was created using the jQuery mobile online application

    (jquerymobile.com). This theme made it so that the content was compatible and

    aesthetically pleasing when being viewed on different types of mobile device. Once

    complete the content was hosted on a local server on the museum premises. It was

    recognised that some mobile devices failed to receive a mobile internet reception

    required to operate the system. For this reason a local wi-fi network was established in

    the museum using an Apple Airport module.

    10

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    11/43

    Generating QR Codes

    Upon completion of the online content individual QR codes were generated to relate to

    the URL on which each page was hosted. This was done using the Kaywa online QR-

    code generator (qrcode.kayway.com) which is able to generate a code specific to an

    inputed URL. A truncated URL was also generated using the online URL shortener

    bit.ly. It was proposed that these truncated URLs might work to allow access to pages

    for those without the relevant QR reading software. However it was soon recognised

    that such URLs require access to an external server, which the established wi-fi

    network does not allow. For this reason the shortened URLs were abandoned. The QR

    codes generated were downloaded as an image format before being resized into

    approximately 4cm squares and mounted in a printable document using Microsoft

    Word. In this format they were also coupled with a text label specifying the name of the

    specimen to which the code relates. The codes were then printed and cut to size. Each

    individual code was mounted to the display of the relevant specimen using single sided

    adhesive film. For most of the specimen this involved attaching the code to the outside

    of the glass display case relative to the position of the specimen within that case,

    though for other more open displays positioning and attachment of labels required a

    little more imagination.

    Preparing the System for General Use

    As soon as the system was considered to be operational an email was composed and

    sent to members of staff and senior students associated with the department of

    ecology and evolutionary biology situated in the same building as the zoology museum

    inviting those who were able to use the system. A poster was also constructed for the

    attention of the public informing them of the aims of the project and a guideline to the

    proper use of the system which was placed near the entrance of the museum. An

    example of the poster can be viewed in the appendix.

    11

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    12/43

    Following a collection period of approximately 14 days it was observed that the system

    had received little attention from visitors. In response to this it was decided that an

    event be hosted in the museum where the project might be explained in person and

    that visitors be offered some incentive of reward for their participation. An event page

    was created on the social networking site Facebook encouraging those that were

    interested to attend and advertise the event to their friends. This was also advertised

    via an email sent to the same individuals as outlined previously and mentioned loosely

    on various other social networking platforms such as Twitter. A short questionnaire was

    composed for use during the event in an attempt to gain user feedback in terms of

    ease of use of the system, the apparent effectiveness of the system and overall

    perception of the system. Other questions included user age and device owned. A

    space was also given for additional comments to be made. The results of which were

    omitted from the final study as they were considered to be of little value.

    It was also decided that a visual representation might be necessary so that users might

    associate the codes with their purpose. For this a number of codes were coupled with a

    cartoon image depicting a mobile device scanning a QR code and receiving additional

    information. This image can be found in the appendix.

    Collection of Data

    A recording system was established so that data points were collected and logged on a

    database each time the code of a specimen was scanned. This system used a script

    on the host web server to identify the browser cookies of visitor owned devices to

    identify and track individual devices. In doing so, information could be viewed relating

    to the time at which a code was scanned and the type of device which was used. As

    well as this the individual identity of the visitor could also be monitored. By inferring

    data on the order of scans as well as the number it was made possible to extrapolate

    information pertaining to visitor navigation, preference and behaviour. The IP address

    of each device was also retrieved searched for using the lookup feature in Network

    Utility on a Macintosh computer. This allowed for the source to be recognised and the

    12

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    13/43

    nature of their internet connection to be identified. The data used in this study was

    collected between February 15th and March 11th.

    Results

    A total of 28 visitors took part in the study over a period of approximately 25 days

    generating a total of 262 hits to the exhibit sites. The entire database retrieved from the

    study can be viewed at the following url: http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/

    Devices

    Of the 28 visitors the distribution of the device type used can be viewed as follows:

    Chart 1

    From Chart 1 we can see that the most prevalent devices used by visitors are

    Blackberry, iPhone and those which support the Android 2.2 operating systems. As

    shown here the three of these represent an equal proportion of visitor devices used,

    13

    http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    14/43

    however if the different versions of Android software were to be considered as one then

    devices using this software could be considered the most abundant.

    Seven unique IP addresses were recognised as having been used by visitors, the most

    prevalent of which was that of the wi-fi network provided for the purpose of this

    experiment. Others identified included those relating to various mobile networks

    suggesting that many visitors were able to access sufficient 3G coverage in the

    museum to operate the system without the need for the wi-fi network. The distribution

    of which used can be viewed as follows:

    Chart 2

    Although of all those listed in Chart 2 the museum wi-fi is the most commonly used it is

    clear that most visitors were able to operate the system to a satisfying degree using

    only mobile reception.

    14

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    15/43

    Preference

    A total of 262 hits were received over the collections period, though some of these

    were recognised as being repeat hits by individuals on some exhibits leaving a total of

    234 individual hits. A histogram outlining the distribution of those individual hits among

    the exhibits can be viewed as follows:

    Graph 1

    The x-axis relates to the number of individual hits received in total while the X-axis lists

    the latin name of the exhibits included in the study. From Graph 1 we can see that the

    sloth exhibit (B. tridactylus) received the most hits overall and the porcupine exhibit (C.

    prehensilis) received the fewest.

    15

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    16/43

    The overall apparent popularity of exhibits of the same taxa was also considered. The

    following histogram shows the distribution of hits among the different taxonomic groups

    that were included:

    Graph 2

    Again, the x-axis represents the total number of individual hits received but this time

    relating to a number of exhibits grouped by their taxonomy. Graph 2 would suggest that

    mammal exhibits received significantly more attention than other exhibits, and

    amphibian and fish exhibits significantly less.

    16

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    17/43

    However, it should be recognised that a total of eight mammal exhibits where included

    while only two amphibian and two fish exhibits were included and four of every other.

    With this in mind these results were then calibrated to give the values as seen in the

    following histogram:

    Graph 3

    Graph 3 would suggest that in fact bird exhibits received the most attention and that

    fish actually received relatively more attention that invertebrates in comparison to that

    seen in the previous histogram.

    Further to this point a chi sqaured test was performed to test whether there was any

    significant bias displayed by visitors toward any group of exhibits based on the logic

    that if the mammal exhibits represent 1/3 of the museum collection then we would

    17

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    18/43

    expect those exhibits to receive 1/3 of the hits. The results for which are shown in the

    following table:

    Table 1

    Taxonomic

    Group

    Observed

    Popularity

    Expected

    Popularity

    Chi Squared Probability

    Mammals 86 78 0.82051282 0.5>P>0.3

    Birds 47 29 1.64102564 0.2>P>0.1

    Reptiles 39 39 0 P=1

    Amphibians 12 19.5 2.88461538 0.1>P>0.05

    Fish 17 19.5 0.32051282 0.7>P>0.5

    Invertebrates 33 39 0.92307692 0.50.8

    Closed 177 175.5 0.01282051 0.9>P>0.95

    Grouped 199 195 0.08205128 0.8>P>0.7

    Solitary 35 39 0.41025641 0.7>P>0.5

    Table 2 shows the chi squared values for the display type of exhibits. Display types

    were grouped separately as being either open or closed, in that the the physical

    specimen is either contained within a glass case or displayed openly, and as being

    grouped or solitary. These values also show no significance of display type in visitor

    preference.

    Table 3

    18

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    19/43

    Region ofOrigin

    Observed Expected Chi squared Probability

    Extinct 25 19.5 1.55128205 0.3>P>0.2

    Marine 57 68.25 1.8543956 0.2>P>0.1

    African 36 29.25 0.455625 0.7>P>0.5

    Asian 24 19.5 1.03846154 0.5>P>0.3

    Australasian 41 48.75 1.23205128 0.5>P>0.3

    European 19 19.5 0.01282051 0.95>P>0.9

    American 32 29.25 0.25854701 0.7>P>0.5

    Table 3 shows the same, this time with respect to the region in which the displayed

    organism is typically found. Though still of little statistical significance it would appear

    as though it has a greater effect than the previous discussed factors.

    One final consideration was given to the nature of the specimen exhibited in terms of

    physical condition. Exhibits were recognised as being either living, skeletal,

    taxidermied, chemically preserved or artificial. The values of which can be viewed as

    follows:

    Table 4

    Status Observed Expected Chi Squared Probability

    Living 19 19.5 0.01282051 0.95>P>0.9

    Skeletal 77 78 0.01282051 0.95>P>0.9

    Taxidermied 84 78 0.46153846 0.5>P>0.3

    Preserved 25 29.25 0.61752137 0.5>P>0.3

    Artifical 29 29.25 0.00213675 P>0.95

    Similarly these factors are shown to have little significance on the influence on the

    preference of visitors.

    A full table outlining the categorisation of each exhibit can be found in the appendix.

    19

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    20/43

    Navigation

    A basic floor plan of the Hunterian zoology museum was constructed based on a

    previous hand drawn version supplied by the curator. It can be viewed as follows:

    Plan 1

    Each blue dot indicates the approximate location of a specimen that was included in

    the study. Dots are labelled with the initial of the specimen which they relate to. This is

    to be used as a reference for the following charts. A key for the abbreviations can be

    found in the appendix. This was done by calculating the points of each exhibit on the

    floor plan and then generating a scatter plot relative to these points. The resulting chart

    was then imposed onto the floor plan to outline the relative position of the exhibits.

    20

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    21/43

    Onto this plan the relative popularity of each exhibit could be visualised using a bubble

    chart where the size of the bubble occupying the relative position of an exhibit is

    indicative of the number of hits it received over the collection period. This can be

    viewed as follows:

    Plan 2

    Plan 2 visualises that which was displayed in Graph 1 to show the relative popularity of

    exhibits with relation to their spatial distribution throughout the museum. Towards the

    bottom right we can see that relating to the Robber Crab (Birgus latro) exhbit which

    appears to be significantly larger than that of any other invertebrate exhibit. Another

    notable point is that of the Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) exhibit which received the most

    individual hits overall.

    21

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    22/43

    Using this same plan the navigation of individual visitors could be tracked by inferring

    the relative position of each exhibit and the order in which they were viewed by that

    individual. The following diagram illustrates a compilation of all individual visitor paths

    attained over the collection period:

    Plan 3

    Lines shown in bold represent the paths most commonly taken by visitors. From this it

    can be seen that visitors typically navigate themselves around the periphery of the

    museum walls, but also that there is significant amounts of crossing over that occurs

    between exhibits of opposing locations.

    22

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    23/43

    The individual paths taken by visitors were also generated using the same method,

    though this was only relevant for visitors who viewed three or more of the exhibits

    throughout the museum. A total of 20 visitor path plans were generated, an example of

    which can be viewed as follows:

    Plan 4

    The starting point of the visit is indicated by the letter x. From here the visitor can be

    seen to have taken a clockwise route loosely following the outside wall of the museum.

    An animated .gif showing the reaminder of the plans can be viewed at the following url:

    http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/.

    23

    http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    24/43

    Using a similar technique a series of star charts was compiled. These charts relate to

    the exhibits which were viewed by visitors after having viewing a particular exhibit. An

    example of which can be viewed as follows:

    Plan 5

    Plan 5 is shown to have the relative position of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    exhibit located at the centre of a star plot. The lines protruding from this relate the

    positions of those exhibits that visitors viewed next. If we were to take north as facing

    upwards, shown here we can see the Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) exhibit due south of this

    position, the Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) exhibit south by southeast, the Dolphin exhibit

    (Delphis delphinus) southeast, and the Gian Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) to the

    northeast.

    24

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    25/43

    The relative distance between these points were also calculated and imposed onto the

    charts as well as the average distance traveled by visitors after having viewed that

    particular exhibit. An example of which can be viewed as follows:

    Plan 6

    Shown in Plan 6 is the distance chart for the Royal Python exhibit (Pythos regius). The

    value shown at the centre of the star represents the average distance traveled by

    visitors to reach the next exhibit. Using the same compass analogy as above to the

    southwest of this point we can again see the Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) exhibit, to the

    northwest the Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) exhibit, north by northwest is the Dolphin

    (Delphinus delphis) exhibit, north by northeast is the African Elephant (Loxodonta

    africana) exhibit, and to the southeast the Merlin (Falco colombarius) exhibit. The

    distance travelled from the starting point to the dolphin and elephant exhibits

    respectively is seen to be equidistant. The same can be said of the distances shown of

    the Sloth and Merlin exhibits.

    25

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    26/43

    It should be noted that as the floor plan was not drawn to scale distances can be taken

    as being represented in map units, where one map unit is equal to one centimeter

    when viewed at size A4. This can be used to infer some sense of how far a visitor is

    likely to have traveled between viewing exhibits.

    The proportion of visitors that chose to a particular exhibit next was also inferred for

    each individual exhibit. This can be used to estimate the likelihood of a visitor viewing a

    particular exhibit next. An example of which can be viewed as follows:

    Plan 7

    Plan 7 shows that from viewing the Tarsier exhibit 28.6% of visitors went on to view the

    Sloth exhibit, while 57.1% of visitors viewed the Koala exhibit next, and only 14.3%

    viewed the Giant Anteater. This supports the notion that visitors may be inclined to view

    exhibits that are spatially closely associated with that which they are currently viewing.

    These figures also indicate a slight preference of visitors to navigate in a clockwise

    motion throughout the museum.

    26

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    27/43

    A full set of these figures can be found in an animated .gif format at the following url:

    http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/

    Discussion

    Devices & IP addresses

    Data retrieved relating to the manufacturer and operating systems of the devices

    recorded may prove useful in the further establishment of content included in the

    pages. Some content including other forms media and interactive features may require

    specific drivers for different device types and so any considerations made to this effect

    would then allow for the development of more engaging and interactive content that

    would seek to exclude the fewest number of visitors possible. As seen in the results the

    most prevalent of the devices used were those using Android and iPhone operating

    systems, both of which to my understanding feature dedicated application services

    which would likely allow the successful operation of such features.

    Of the IP addresses recognised it was observed that the majority of visitors which took

    part in the study where able to satisfactorily operate the system without the aid of the

    wi-fi network provided. It was originally assumed that sufficient mobile internet

    reception was unavailable in the museum and so for the purpose of this experiment a

    dedicated wi-fi network had been established. This assumption was based on

    observations made on the function of my own device (an iPhone 3GS), though it would

    appear as though this is not the case for all devices.

    A secondary function of hosting visitors on a dedicated wi-fi network is that the IP

    address recognised can confidently be said to have come from within the museum. The

    function of this system as a tool by which to effectively measure visitor interest and

    navigation relies heavily on the assumption that a visitor is located in the vicinity of a

    particular exhibit when viewing a web page related to that object. This was largely

    facilitated by the exclusive association of a specific QR code with a physical object (i.e.

    with no alternative means of accessing a page). This may have been somewhat

    27

    http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/http://iphylo.org/~rpage/museum/report/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    28/43

    confounded by the fact that a visitor is potentially able to gain access to a page from

    information stored in their browser history after their initial visit. By identifying a visitor

    with an IP address other than that of the dedicated wi-fi network it was thought that it

    could be assumed that they were viewing a page from outwith the museum. However, it

    was observed that many of these foreign addresses were coming from the mobile

    networks of those with mobile devices capable of receiving adequate signal and so

    were included in the results.

    Preference

    The chi squared values generated show that there is little significance in the effect that

    the various aspects of exhibit type identified have on which exhibits visitors decided to

    view. This would suggest that there are no factors which affect the preference of

    visitors towards exhibits of any particular type and so lead us to accept the null

    hypothesis proposed earlier in this document. This would then suggest that visitors are

    generally operating in the absence of any pre-existing bias of preference to any

    particular group of exhibits and instead considering all of those equally. Any effect of

    bias may potentially have been confounded by the small number of exhibits included in

    the study, whereby visitors operated under the consideration that all those included are

    equal in that each represents a novel function when compared to other exhibits which

    were not included in the study.

    There is perhaps some small observable bias of preference in relation to the spatial

    distribution of exhibits throughout the museum. See that of the Robber Crab (Birgus

    latro) which was seen to have received more hits relative to any other invertebrate

    exhibit included in the study. This may be because it is situated close to the entrance of

    the museum and so visitors would be more aware of this particular exhibit upon first

    arriving in the museum. Contrary to this point is that of the Common Frog (Rana

    temporaria) which received relatively fewer hits than many of the other exhibits. This

    could be because it is situated toward the far right corner of the museum in an

    unexposed corridor. Consideration to this effect with respect to the spatial distribution

    28

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    29/43

    of exhibits may offer an explanation to the small amount of preference observed toward

    some exhibits over others, although the nature of this study does not allow for any full

    analysis toward the nature of this.

    Navigation

    The compilation floor-plan shown in the results indicates that most visitors favoured

    paths which outlined the periphery of the museum. This would indicate that there is in

    fact some factor of influence in how visitors choose to navigate themselves throughout

    the museum, though the nature of which is not fully understood. This notion is further

    illustrated by the individual floor plans observed. While some may appear more erratic

    in their navigation, and other more brief visits somewhat obscure in themselves, the

    majority of those clearly indicate a route which follows a logical outside path. Perhaps

    quite obviously this may be the case as there are few exhibits that where included in

    the study which are situated toward the centre of the museum. What this does indicate

    though is that users are not simply drifting autonomously from one exhibit to the next

    but are instead directed by some governing factor. With inference of the information

    shown by star charts and their respective distances we can then make the assumption

    that visitors are most likely to feel an inclination to view exhibits that are spatially quite

    closely associated to their current position. This tendency may also be influenced by

    the visibility of neighbouring exhibits, though the data collected does not permit the

    testing of such an effect. While this is perhaps to be expected it does pose as an issue

    in that a visitor may simply be searching for a tag as opposed considering their purpose

    as a means to access supplementary information.

    Although the floor-plan is not drawn to scale and the positions of individual displays are

    not precise it still serves a purpose in that it conveys the relative position of users at the

    time of scanning and the relative distance travelled between displays. As well as this

    the plan fails to acknowledge various physical barriers that occur throughout the

    museum. Often the paths assumed by this process are unlikely to have been taken in

    reality due to physical obstructions present throughout the museum. Despite this the

    29

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    30/43

    charts still act to convey some aspect of association between displays in terms of their

    general proximity to one another with moderate success. Such barriers include tables

    and chairs which may act to obstruct some displays and pathways between displays.

    Most notably are those facing the Merlin (Falco colombarius) and Three-toed Sloth

    (Bradypus tridactylus) displays. An arch of tables surrounding the Tree Frog (Litoria

    caerulea) tank may also have served as a physical obstruction. Also present

    throughout the collection period of this study were a pair of large storage containers

    which acted to block a direct path between the Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) and the Koala

    (Phascolarctos cinereus) displays (to the far left of the floor plan). The presence of

    these, though temporary, may have influenced user navigation throughout the

    collection period of the study. Also missing from the floor plan provided is the insect

    installation which resides between the Koala and the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga

    tridactyla) displays, which might also be taken into consideration when considering the

    paths chosen by visitors relative to this area. Incidentally the contents of which were

    omitted from the study entirely, and in doing so effectively excluding an entire animal

    group which may have been of potential interest to a number of visitors. The initial logic

    behind this was that the installation is apparently more recent than the other displays

    and in itself represents a newer and more interactive way to view the exhibits which it

    holds when compared to the rest of the museum.

    Paths were first assumed to originate from the entrance and progress throughout the

    museum thusly, as would be experienced by most visiting individuals. However, as the

    majority of participating individuals were made up of students and members of staff

    from the department these paths may have originated from a number of points

    throughout the museum. More to this point on the day of the event visitors were

    engaged at a small stall that was set up next to the Elephant Bird (Aepyornis) exhibit,

    where the nature of the experiment was explained to them and they were offered a

    reward for their participation. From here the participants would most likely have initiated

    their recorded visit starting from exhibits closely associated to this point. This could

    have potentially been avoided by implementation of a dedicated starting point, whereby

    30

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    31/43

    a visitor would be expected to scan a code near the entrance to mark the start of their

    visit. Upon doing so they could be informed of the various exhibits included in the

    project and directed from this point. One issue that a system such as this might pose,

    as well as the nature of the event itself, is that this may act to influence the navigation

    of a visitor in a way that is unnatural and unrepresentative of their own behaviour. It

    was originally hoped that data points be collected passively and without any form of

    intrusion, though as the collection period progressed it was made clear that some form

    of intervention was necessary to in effect guide users in the correct use of the system.

    In doing so this may have effectively corrupted the data retrieved, though undoubtedly

    it is still in some way representative of that which it was hoped to have been achieved.

    It should also be noted that the paths shown are based on the sequential scanning of

    displays and do not necessarily represent the true navigation of visitors but rather an

    approximation of which based on this information. By inferring information relating to

    the time spent between displays we can speculate as to the nature of the distractions

    and deviations encountered in between scans. Though the data retrieved does in effect

    permit doing so this particular aspect was not explored in the study. The reasons for

    which are that several instances were recorded where visitors were apparently viewing

    two or more exhibits within the space of a single recorded minute, and thus calculating

    the time between sequential scans as effectively zero. One means of correcting this

    would be to record data relating to time on a scale which includes time in seconds. It

    was originally hoped that time spent between scans could be extrapolated as a means

    to gauge interest in a particular exhibit (Bohnert et al, 2008), although from this it would

    appear that visitor interest in some cases is minimal, and that visitors often scan an

    exhibit in the hope of receiving some form of instant gratification (i.e. to view an image

    or a map etc.). This attitude may have been accommodated by how the system is

    viewed by visitors. By including so few exhibits in the study visitors might have viewed

    those with a tag as representing a form of novelty. This effect may have been less

    apparent if more exhibits had been included, although it is likely that the main issue lies

    within the content provided for each exhibit. If the visitor were to be provided with some

    31

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    32/43

    aspect of interactivity when viewing an exhibit we might then expect that their

    engagement be held for a longer period of time, and thus be able to better gauge their

    level of interest.

    Limitations

    One can expect that if implemented on a more permanent basis the results generated

    would be considered generally more robust. The results generated throughout this

    study represent only a small demographic of potential visitors generated over a

    relatively short period of time. As a result little can be said about the trends displayed in

    the results as they occur in such little abundance that they may not be considered of

    any statistical significance.

    The success of the experiment may have been somewhat confounded in that use of

    the system is limited to those who own a device able to operate it. What was first

    considered to be a lack of interest might have merely been a lack of user compatibility.

    There may also be a bias in those who are most likely to own a device of this nature.

    One way to rectify this would be to provide visitors with task specific QR readers for the

    purpose of viewing the content during their visit, though in reality such a solution

    represents an investment on the part of the museum. In doing so this might also

    challenge the user by introducing an alien device and novel behaviour, thus limiting the

    popularity of such (Simon, 2009). What is more is that throughout the conducting of the

    experiment numerous individuals were encountered who were in possession of a

    suitable device but were unaware of this particular function. This could have been

    remedied in part by better publicity of the new system coupled with a demonstration of

    proper use or a more comprehensive review of the software available. Although users

    were prompted to seek out the relevant software before participating, and given some

    guidance on how to do so, it was often the case that unfamiliarity on the part of the

    owner limited the number of those who were in the end able to participate.

    32

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    33/43

    Another limiting factor was that the network on which the wi-fi was hosted only allowed

    access to locally stored information, meaning that if a willing participant was to arrive

    who was in possession of a capable device but without the suitable software it is

    unlikely that they would be able to download and install that software on the premises.

    This was a particular disadvantage when trying to include members of the public. The

    success of the system relied on the notion that the user would arrive with the relevant

    reading software pre-installed. As there was little effort made in terms of public

    relations other than a poster at the entrance of the museum it is likely that few

    members of the public were able to contribute. It was suggested that the system be

    advertised in an upcoming newsletter distributed by the Hunterian museum, though the

    next installment of which was not due until after the data collection period for

    experiment had ended. Given this and the fact that the experiment was most

    successfully advertised among the senior students and staff of the department of

    ecology and evolutionary biology it could be said that the results may have been further

    confounded by the nature and occupation of the subjects. Any indication given to

    preference and navigation may be subject to a preexisting bias based on academic

    interest or familiarity with the museum layout and content. For instance one user had

    expressed her dismay at the lack of amphibian specimen included in the study. Though

    this was not apparent in the results it still represents some threat to the overall

    experimental design.

    Such issues encountered with the poor network coverage available also meant that the

    nature of content included in web pages was limited to that which could be stored

    locally and with relative ease. It was originally hoped that video and audio content

    sourced from websites such as YouTube may be imbedded into pages so as to further

    enhance visitor experience. Although on the current network settings this is not

    impossible doing so would require downloading the desired material and hosting it on

    the local server which could be considered an unnecessary hassle that could be

    otherwise mitigated with a more reliable and open network. Although the practical

    implications of establishing such a network is clear, doing so in a public venue would

    make it is largely open to abuse and may pose other security issues.

    33

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    34/43

    Improvements for Further Use

    One drawback of introducing this system to a preinstalled museum is that codes and

    labels had to be mounted onto existing displays. This often meant placing them of the

    surface of glass displays which poses a potential issue in that they are subject to

    vandalism and may act to obscure parts of displays from a given perspective. If this

    system were to be established on a more permanent basis then further consideration

    could be given to the placement of codes by integrating them into the displays

    themselves. One limiting factor with this approach is that in order to successfully scan a

    code the image must be of a suitable size or distance from the device so to satisfy the

    processing software. This means that codes would ideally be placed on the surface of

    displays unless they were made to be very large which itself would pose somewhat of

    an issue.

    The nature of this study meant that only a small fraction of exhibits in the museum were

    included. Generating content and mounting codes for each individual exhibit may be

    desirable but poses several issues of practicality. Exhibits which are housed in display

    cases are often closely associated with one another. Mounting a QR code for each

    might act to confuse the visitor and also act to further obscure other parts of the

    display. Mounting a code as an aside may limit the success to which a visitor relates it

    to the relevant display. Another possibility would be to include codes in a physical menu

    coupled with the display. Perhaps the most attractive solution to this problem would be

    to provide only a single code for a display case which would then relate to a digital

    menu in which the user could navigate and select specimen of interest from within that

    display. This would allow the same consideration of user navigation and preference

    only relating to the contents of each display as opposed to an individual specimen.

    One can imagine that if adapted for use on a more permanent basis these

    considerations could be met with ease. The nature of this study allows only for the

    system to be implemented in a relatively basic form. That being said other ideas that

    34

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    35/43

    were hoped to have been explored could well have been accommodated. One such

    idea would be to actively influence user navigation by indicating related exhibits to that

    which they are currently viewing in terms of the ecology, geography, or taxonomy of

    that exhibit. For instance if the user were to view the porcupine display (Coendu

    prehensilis) they could then be made aware of other arboreal animals, animals from

    south america, or of any other mammals in the museum. This would then allow

    assumptions to be made on how user navigation is influenced and what is about that

    animals biology that interests the visitor most. An expansion of this idea could be the

    identification of returning visitors upon which they are made aware of any changes to

    the museum based on their previous interactions. This would allow a form of public

    relation that is conducted on a personal level, offering news and information provided

    to the visitor that has been tailored specifically to their interests.

    As far as enhancing displays for use as an educational tool goes a system such as this

    offers a multitude of possibilities based on the level of interactivity it represents. Users

    could be set challenges to find and identify exhibits that share a common defining

    feature. For instance when viewing the Archaeopteryx (Archaeopteryx lithographica) a

    visitor could then be asked to identify another specimen in the museum which is

    extinct, receiving points for a correct answer and unlocking content such as awards

    and trophies as they progress. Features such as this would work to create more

    engaging experiences for visitors in the hope that they might retain the information

    offered by the museum (vom Lehn, 2006).

    Museum 2.0

    The concept of Museum 2.0 is based on the same underlying criteria on which Web 2.0

    is defined (OReilly, 2005). Here a definition is made which acts to differentiate web

    hosted content which allows only observation and that which encourages user

    participation. These same principles apply when we consider the nature and purpose of

    museum displays. Where a traditional museum only allows user participation on the

    level of spectator Museum 2.0 would actively involve visitors with the hope of engaging

    35

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    36/43

    an interest that has otherwise been neglected. Currently displayed content is restricted

    to that which is dictated by curatorial authority. The 2.0 equivalent of this would be to

    effectively create circumstances by which users are able to generate their own content

    based on their own knowledge and experience. This would in effect directly challenge

    the idea that exhibits are unchanging in their content and display. In the most basic

    form this may simply mean that visitors are invited to rate or comment on exhibits

    based on how much they enjoyed it, serving as a further measure of exhibit popularity

    and also as a means by which to engage visitors in a participatory activity. Further

    developments of this might include allowing the display of user generated content

    including forms of visual media and written text. One obvious risk posed by offering a

    service such as this is that if not moderated properly then any user generated content

    would be widely open to falsification and other forms of digital vandalism. Conversely

    the process of moderating user generated content could be said to defeat the purpose

    of offering such a service in the first place. Though this is an understandable dilemma it

    is thought that if invited to contribute any form of content most visitors would strive to

    create something of value based on the knowledge that it would be viewed by others.

    This content could then be reviewed by subsequent visitors and so acting as a form of

    community driven moderation and further acting as an incentive to generate content

    that is of some worth (Simon, 2007b). The success of web content of this nature is

    abundantly apparent and so we should hope to see a similar effect if extrapolated to be

    applied to museums.

    Although the system described in this study does not fit the criteria of the Museum 2.0

    it does represent a platform for which a system such as that could be realised. An

    interest has been expressed by several members of staff at the university who had

    inquired about the system and the possibility of hosting content relating to the history

    and significance of the exhibited specimen. It is well known that the University of

    Glasgow boasts an active exploration society through which several student lead

    expeditions are led every year. It was commented by one participating member of staff

    that the pages of specimen could be linked to a series of tagged content relating to

    36

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    37/43

    expeditions that are related to the country of origin of the animal displayed in that

    exhibit. Take for instance the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) exhibit.

    Content hosted on this page could relate to user uploaded video and photographs as

    well as stories of personal encounters experienced by previous members of an

    expedition to Bolivia. This would then effectively act as a means of advertisement for

    the society. With regards to specimen history, this represents an entirely new realm of

    information relating to that object which transcends any biological interest and

    concerns that of a personal history that the object may represent.

    Conclusion

    Though the potential of implementing a system such as this is clear it can perhaps be

    said that it was not fully realised in this case. That being said the possibilities that it

    poses and those which are continuing to arise are almost boundless. At present the

    system represents a tool for monitoring visitor feedback that might otherwise be

    considered practically unfeasible. By expanding this to accommodate the concept of

    Museum 2.0 it could prove instrumental in establishing more engaging experiences by

    promoting visitor participation. Previous efforts to do so were thought to have been

    confounded by an unwillingness experienced on the part of the visitor to embrace alien

    technology and novel behaviour. The provision and maintenance of these technologies

    may also prove costly to the proprietor. By employing the use of user owned

    technology we can facilitate a service such as this without the need of such burdens. It

    is not so much a hope as an inevitability that as time progresses systems of this nature

    and the devices required to use them will become more prevalent in all reaches of our

    everyday life. As this happens we can so too expect a similar pattern in the familiarity of

    users toward these systems and thus be able to make better use of them. One can

    imagine that if the use of QR codes were to be introduced for more practical everyday

    purposes people might cease to see them as a novelty and embrace their full potential.

    Acknowledgments

    37

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    38/43

    I would firstly like to thank my project supervisor Professor Roderic Page for his

    guidance and technical expertise. I would also like to thank Maggie Reilly, curator of

    zoology at the Hunterian Museum of the University of Glasgow, for her advice and

    insight into the various curatorial responsibilities. Finally I wish to my express gratitude

    toward those who were willing to take part in this experiment and offer their own

    criticisms on the nature and conducting of the study.

    Bibliography

    Baldwin, T., Kuriakose, L.T., Cheap, Accurate RFID Tracking of Museum Visitors for

    Personalised Content Delivery, The Kubadji Project, http://www.kubadji.org

    Bohnert, F., Zuckerman, I., Berkovsky, S., Baldwin, T., Sonenberg, L., Using Interest

    and Transition Models to Predict Visitor Locations in Museums,Ai Communications,

    Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 195-202, 2008

    Bohnert, F., Zukerman,I., Schmidt, D.F. "Using Gaussian Spatial Processes to Model

    and Predict Interests in Museum Exhibits", Proceedings of the Seventh Workshop on

    Intelligent Techniques for Web Personalization and Recommender Systems, pp. 13-19,

    2009

    Borggrewe, S., QR Codes as a Complementing Global Positioning Method for

    Location Aware iPhone Apps, Department of Media, University of Applied Science,

    Dusseldorf, 2009

    Bryson, B., A Short History of Nearly Everything, 2004

    Fleming, D., Managing Change in Museums, The Museum and Change, November

    2005, National Museum, Prague

    38

    http://www.kubadji.org/http://www.kubadji.org/http://www.kubadji.org/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    39/43

    Giles, J., Barcodes help objects tell their stories, New Scientist, issue 2756, 14 April

    2010, pp. 20

    vom Lehn, D., Heath, C., Knoblauch, H., Configuring Exhibits: The interactional

    production of experiences in museums and galleries, Verbal Art Across Cultures: The

    aesthetics and proto-aesthetics of communication, pp. 281-297, 2006

    McManus, P.M., Oh, Yes, They Do: How Museum Visitors Read Labels and Interact

    with Exhibit Texts, Curator: The Museum Journal, Vol. 32, Is. 3, pp. 174-189,

    September 1989

    Oreilly, T., What is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next

    Generation of Software, September 2005.

    Simon, N., Beyond Hands On: Web 2.0 and New Models for Engagement, Hand to

    Hand, Winter 2007, Vol. 21, No. 4

    Simon, N., Discource in the Blogosphere: What Museums Can Learn From Web 2.0.

    Museums and Social Issues, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007, pp. 257-274, Left Coast Press

    Simon, N., Going Analog: Translating Virtual Learnings into Real Institutional Change,

    Museums and the Web, 2009, Toronto: Archives & Museum Informatics

    Stearn, W. T., The Natural History Museum at South Kensington: a history of the British

    Museum (Natural History) 1753-1980, London: Heinemann in association with the

    British Museum (Natural History), XXIII

    Wang, Y., Stash, N., Aroyo, L., Hollink, L., Schreiber, G., Using Semantic Relations For

    Content-based Recommender Systems in Culutral Heritage, 2009

    Winker, K., Natural History Museums in a Post-Biodiversity Ear, BioScience, Vol. 54,

    No. 5, May 2004, pp. 455-459

    Websites

    bit.ly

    www.talesofthings.com

    39

    http://www.talesofthings.com/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.talesofthings.com/http://www.talesofthings.com/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    40/43

    www.mypersonaltour.com

    www.iucnredlist.org

    www.jquerymobile.com

    www.mobile-

    barcodes.com

    qrcode.kaywa.com

    www.denso-wave.com

    Appendix

    A copy of the poster that was erected to advertise the project to members of the public

    can be viewed as follows:

    40

    http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/http://www.denso-wave.com/http://www.denso-wave.com/http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/http://www.jquerymobile.com/http://www.jquerymobile.com/http://www.mypersonaltour.com/http://www.mypersonaltour.com/
  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    41/43

    An example of the visual aids provided for visitors to help relate the codes to their

    function can be viewed as follows:

    Images courtesy of qrcode.kaywa.com

    A table of exhibits included and associated categories can be viewed as follows:

    Species TaxonomicGroup

    Display Type SpecimenStatus

    Region ofOrigin

    ObservedPopularity

    Aepyornis Bird Open/Grouped Skeleton Extinct 13

    Archaeopteryx Bird Enclosed/Grouped

    Skeleton Extinct 12

    Birgus latro Invertebrate Enclosed/Grouped

    Model Asia 13

    41

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    42/43

    Bradypustridactylus

    Mammal Enclosed/Grouped

    Taxidermied South America 16

    Crocodilusporosus

    Reptile Open/Grouped Skeleton Australasia 5

    Coenduprehensilis

    Mammal Enclosed/Solitary

    Taxidermied South America 3

    Delphinusdelphi

    Mammal Open/Grouped Skeleton Marine 10

    Eretmochelysimbricata

    Reptile Enclosed/Grouped

    Model Marine 10

    Exocoetusvolitans

    Fish Enclosed/Grouped

    Chemical Marine 6

    Falcocolombarius

    Bird Enclosed/Grouped

    Taxidermied Europe 13

    Litoria caerulea Amphibian Enclosed/Grouped Living Australasia 6

    LoxodontaAfricana

    Mammal Open/Grouped Skeleton Africa 14

    Myrmecophagatridactyla

    Mammal Enclosed/Solitary

    Taxidermied South America 13

    Nautiluspompilus

    Invertebrate Enclosed/Grouped

    Model Marine 6

    Oryx gazella Mammal Open/Grouped Taxidermied Africa 9

    Phascolarctoscinereus

    Mammal Enclosed/Grouped

    Taxidermied Australasia 10

    Python regius Reptile Enclosed/Solitary

    Living Africa 13

    Ranatemporaria

    Amphibian Enclosed/Grouped

    Skeleton Europe 6

    Rhizostomapulmo

    Invertebrate Enclosed/Grouped

    Chemical Marine 8

    Sphenodonpunctatum Reptile Enclosed/Grouped Skeleton Australasia 11

    Sphyrnazygaena

    Fish Enclosed/Grouped

    Chemical Marine 11

    Tarsius tarsier Mammal Enclosed/Grouped

    Taxidermied Asia 11

    Tridacna gigas Invertebrate Open/Solitary Skeleton Marine 6

    Trichoglossushaematodus

    Bird Enclosed/Grouped

    Taxidermied Australasia 9

    42

  • 7/31/2019 Templeton LE 2011

    43/43

    A table of abbreviations as they appear on the annotated floor-plan can be viewed as

    follows:

    Abv. Latin name Abv. Latin name

    Ae Aepyornis A.l Archaeopteryx lithographica

    B.l Birgus latro B.t Bradypus tridactylus

    C.p Crocodilus porosus C.pr Coendu prehensilis

    D.d Delphinus delphis E.i Eretmochelys imbricata

    E.v Exocoetus volitans F.c Falco colombarius

    L.a Loxodonta africana L.c Litoria carulea

    M.t Myrmecophaga tridactyla N.p Nautilus pompilus

    O.g Oryx gazella P.c Phascolarctos cinereus

    P.r Pythos regius R.t Rana temporaria

    R.p Rhizostoma pulmo S.p Sphenodon punctatum

    S.z Sphyrna zygaena T.g Tridacna gigas

    T.h Trichoglossus haematodus T.t Tarsier tarsius

    A .pdf version of this document is avalaible at the followin link: