Investigating the Impact of Proximity and Visual Conation Modes on Enhancing Engagement with Public Large Interactive Displays

Abstract

Deployment of large interactive displays (LIDs) to public spaces has provided new ways for passersby to gain information. This medium plays the role of transmitter for information visualizations designed to communicate certain messages or provide specific digital experiences. However, prior research has shown that these forms of interactive surfaces are often highly underutilized, even unnoticed, when installed in public spaces. When LIDs are unnoticed, or fail to sufficiently engage passersby, the intended message(s) cannot be transmitted or perceived successfully. To mitigate this problem, this research leverages empirical and theoretical frameworks from the field of Communication Studies, and from the subfield of Symbol Interaction as well as various message functions. Accordingly, we generated several animated visual cues to examine the impact of proximity and conation (persuasion) modes. We also ran a field study to evaluate the interface design. Through implementing of the data analysis, we learned that animation effects are useful assets in order to obviate the conative function of communication (persuade passersby to become engaged with the LID). Our findings emphasize that self-revealing systems design may encourage the user to become engaged with the LID. It was also revealed that randomized animated visual effects had more impact on the passersby touch behaviour.