Following the successful collaboration between the two Liechtenstein institutions during the “Du bisch dra!” (It’s your turn!) museum competition, a student research project has been successfully implemented over the past months: an augmented-reality application for the “Matheliebe” (Love of maths) exhibition.
Further collaboration between the Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum and the University of Liechtenstein
Following the successful collaboration between the two Liechtenstein institutions during the “Du bisch dra!” (It’s your turn!) museum competition, a student research project has been successfully implemented over the past months: an augmented-reality application for the “Matheliebe” (Love of maths) exhibition.
In the scope of his Bachelor’s thesis, Peter Sommerauer, an information systems student at the University of Liechtenstein, conducted a field experiment from 17 March to 7 April 2013 in collaboration with the Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum and the University of Liechtenstein. The research focused on quantitatively recording how much people had learned during their visit to the museum, in combination with the influence of new media.
Augmented-reality applications in the “Matheliebe” exhibition
For this purpose, various exhibits in the “Matheliebe” special exhibition were selected and additionally presented via augmented-reality (AR) applications. They showed the curator conducting experiments and explaining physical phenomena.
In a media conference on 17 May 2013, the research results were presented by student Peter Sommerauer, Professor Rainer Vollkommer, Director of the Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum, and Dr. Oliver Müller, examiner of the Bachelor’s thesis.
Innovative
The 106 participants in the field experiment – school and university students, professionals and pensioners living in the region, aged between 14 and 79, and from various educational and social backgrounds – were divided into mixed-age test groups. For their visit to the exhibition at the LandesMuseum, they were provided with an iPad with headphones for the AR applications.
A pre-test for participants
The participants’ existing knowledge was tested via a written survey prior to the experiment. Following their museum visit, the participants completed a questionnaire with specific questions regarding the exhibition, the use of AR applications, operating the iPads, and personal impressions concerning the topic of augmented reality.
Participants at the pre-test.
Collaboration between the LandesMuseum and the university
Under the organizational management of Peter Sommerauer, the Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum supported the development of the application by providing the assistance of its media expert, Vlado Franjević, and the exhibition’s curator, Georg Schierscher, as an expert and presenter.
Desks with AR spots in the “Matheliebe” exhibition
Walter Beck from Schaan, who provided the exhibition with computing machines from his collection, and Hansjörg Nipp from the Mauren Museum of Cultural Artefacts also acted as presenters, explaining the purposes and functions of some of the exhibited historic computing machines.
The Curta computing machine exhibit with AR spot
As project manager and examiner of the Bachelor’s thesis, Dr. Oliver Müller, assistant professor at the Hilti Chair, was responsible for the collaboration with the LandesMuseum on behalf of the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein.
Greater knowledge retention thanks to AR application
Initial analysis of the questionnaires shows clearly that the presentation of information via an AR application was viewed as a positive contribution to an exhibition by nearly all participants. In the survey, the majority of participants were convinced that they were better able to remember individual elements thanks to the AR-based presentations.
Hyperboloid exhibit with AR spot
This impression was confirmed in the analysis of the field experiment. The average number of correct answers to the knowledge-based questions concerning the exhibition was approximately 1.8 out of 6 questions before visiting the exhibition. Following the visit, an increase in knowledge to approximately 2.6 correct answers was recorded among participants who did not have AR support, whereas those using AR saw an average increase to 3.64 correct answers. The increase rate among the AR group was therefore 2.5 times the value of that seen in the control group without AR.
AR spot for exhibits on the topic of maths in nature
Impetus for the museum of the future
Around 73% of participants viewed AR as an absolute enhancement to the exhibition, while another 25% found it good in parts. Only three people found it less or not at all appealing. Over 90% hope that in future, more exhibits will feature this kind of support. This is a clear impetus for the museum of the future. Additional aspects of the field research will be presented in Peter Sommerauer’s Bachelor’s thesis, which will be completed in May.
Participants at the exhibition