Using a Tangible Versus a Multi-touch Graphical User Interface to Support Data Exploration at a Museum Exhibit

We describe a study comparing the behavior of museum visitors at an interactive exhibit that used physical versus virtual objects to explore a large scientific dataset. The exhibit visualized the distribution of phytoplankton in the world's oceans on a multi-touch table. In one version, visitors used physical rings to look at the type and proportion of phytoplankton in different areas of the oceans, and in the other version they used virtual rings. The findings suggest that the physical rings better afforded touching and manipulations, which were prerequisites to further exploration, and attracted more groups, thereby providing opportunities for people to talk and share. However, the comparison did not detect any measurable differences in the thoroughness of visitors' interactions, the questions they asked, or on-topic talk with others at the exhibit. These results should help museum professionals and interaction designers better weigh the costs and benefits of tangible user interfaces.