Visiting the Rotunda Museum gave us a chance to have a look where we will be setting up our installation and see what sort of existing audio-visual interactive installations the museum already had for inspiration.
In the room we explored there were a handful of various installations, although those most of interest to us were of course the touch-controlled, interactive screens. Of the machines in this category there were a few small screens on stands and one large, wall-mounted screen.
Something I found immediately obvious was that one screen would essentially be enough for this type of installation. That said, having ‘feeder’ screens displaying video loops surrounding the interactive screen, or a screen mirroring the interactive the screen would allow for more interesting and easier viewing for bystanders. This was evident in the fact that, on the lower down interactive screens, it was difficult for anyone other than the person operating the installation to see what was happening. However, the larger and higher up installation allowed for groups to observe someone taking part and get involved themselves, as we did around the larger screen. Given where our installation will be situated – on a dead-end corridor – additional screens should also help entice our potential audience towards the interactive screen.
Visually, both of the installations were quite suitable for their purpose and gave me some good ideas for our own piece. The graphics and colour schemes were well balanced and aesthetically pleasing and also worked well in conjunction with the interface layouts and fonts to make it clear how to operate the installations. The interfaces on both were quite clutter-free but at the same time not overly simple, balancing clarity and visual appeal. Despite this, occasional large chunks of text on the smaller installations were off-putting and I was not keen to read through all of it. This in turn scuppered me when it came to answering questions, making me lose interest further. To combat this effect when designing our own installation, I believe we should offer short and concise pieces of information in a manner more appealing to our 14-24 age range; the complexity of the quizzes or activities should also reflect these. Alongside this I think we could also offer an option for additional, more detailed information for those inclined to find out more.
In terms of audio, I did not notice much in the way of background sounds or sound effects. I think this was not necessarily a bad thing but the inclusion of some audio to reflect the onscreen display may help enhance the user experience. There were voiceovers present, particularly in conjunction with video, although I was not a great fan of this. I had often read the passage of text or gotten the gist visually without the need to wait and be told in speech.
Overall the installations provided me with some good ideas about how my team and I should proceed with our project and provided me with some concepts which I am sure we could adapt to make an enjoyable and informative installation.
And the prize for first critique on-line goes to...
ReplyDeleteGood stuff. Some honest observations which appear to have been useful to you.
Don't forget that the voiceover provides a useful element for those who can't read the text. Maybe you'll want to have an option to turn speaking on and off.
ReplyDeleteInteractives designers seem to shy away from background sounds, but I think in your case it could be a good way to 'transport' people into your installation.