This conference brings together 60 people in May/June 2013 to discuss opportunities and limitations in the use of the latest in Human Computer Interactions (HCI) in museum settings, such as experiences using Kinect, Wii, multi-touch computer-based systems and voice recognition interfaces. Given that HCI is increasingly being used in museum settings, the conference will examine some of the exemplar exhibits that now exist and explore some design challenges regarding the use of HCI in museum settings.
Participants at the conference include an interdisciplinary set of experts (science exhibition development experts, learning science researchers, ISE evaluators and multi-media experts) that will take a critical look at the future needs and appropriate application of HCI in museum environments. The conference will explore both the advantages and limitations of HCI use in museum environments, and will concern itself with both the nature of the hardware and the learning that can occur.
A final report will be disseminated via a multi-user blog that will encourage participation/discussion and the conference leaders will encourage the development of a Community of Practice regarding the use of HCI in museum settings that builds from the existing Open Exhibits web site and Open Exhibits membership (http://openexhibits.org/).
HCI+ISE Conference The HCI+ISE (Human Computer Interaction in Informal Science Education) conference was held in June of 2013, it brought together 60 museum exhibit designers and developers, learning researchers, and technology industry professionals to share effective practices, and to explore both the enormous potential and possible pitfalls that new technologies present for exhibit development in informal science education settings. The conference was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Explora! Science Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center served as locations for conference activities. Participants to the conference came from museums, aquariums, planetariums, university research labs and other educational organizations from across the country. The three-day conference explored HCI technologies, such as motion capture, multitouch, augmented reality, RFID, and voice recognition. It looked at the ways these technologies have—and will in the future—change the way computer-based science exhibits are designed and developed. Along with connecting with their colleagues in the field, conference participants engaged in design activities to better identify effective practices for designing HCI science exhibits. In addition to improving exhibit design practices, the conference helped attendees connect to NSF and other science research priorities. This in turn, helped strengthen the interchanges between museum practice, the learning sciences, and public understanding of science. The overall theme of the conference was the balance between exhibit technology and the visitor experience. This theme provided the appropriate emphasis upon the success of projects in developing models of educational technology and highlighted the unique problems encountered in trying to construct and implement such technology in informal learning settings. It also provided a forum for discussing the ways in which NSF-sponsored projects can effectively introduce HCI into exhibitions to maintain the currency and vitality of exhibitions initiated with NSF funding. A findings document from the conference proceedings was produced and distributed both in print and digitally to participants and others in the field. This document along with additional information can be found at: http://openexhibits.org/hci-ise
