Wayfinding in Museum Environments

10.29465/IJDMD.201010.0006

Amy Mong Fen TSAI

Information Ecology ； Museum Study ； Wayfinding ； Digital Mobile Device ； Activity-Centered Design (ACD) ； Activity Theory (AT) ； Activity Theory checklist

國際數位媒體設計學刊

2卷1期（2010 / 10 / 01）

36 - 43

英文

The National Science and Technology Museum (NSTM) is the case study of this research. This research is interested in the application of digital technology, incorporating a form of humanized interaction, to the digital wayfinding device/tool for future possible development for use in the indoor museum environment. A wayfinding system (e.g. paper map, sign) is a channel of communication with people as they locate themselves in the museum environment. The tape player was an early guidance device that sent the message by straight-line to people, however, the rate of technological change in the world has been rapid and various multimedia devices or facilities (e.g. Kiosk, PDA) have been popular forms of communication and information provision in use in the museum. After reference to a majority of reviews, it is evident that the current wayfinding system is unable to provide both sufficient and efficient information for people as they need to orient their location in a specific environment. People desire to know about their relationship with the chosen environment: for instant, when they are in a large environment. Thus, this research views the human-oriented aspect as the central idea in the production of a smart, flexible wayfinding device/tool, that can communicate instantly with museum personnel or others who have a similar purpose during their visit to the museum. Activity-Centered Design is the method used in this research to examine existing problems of the wayfinding system in the NSTM; to critically analyze the tensions between the traditional system and the possible future wayfinding device/tool (the prototype of this design research) within the framework of this Activity Theory and to propose benefits this new wayfinding device might bring in terms of a new visiting experience and finally, to refer to the feedback from users to sum up the research findings and future possible developments. The results from user feedback, based on a questionnaire, an interview and prototype texting in the NSTM, indicate that most of the participants agreed that this new wayfinding device/tool was more effective in assisting them to find their location than the traditional wayfinding system (paper map, signs etc.), and that humanized interaction with the environment was a valuable tool to increase the level of visitor satisfaction.

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