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Interacting with nature
By Dan Sutch, Learning Researcher, Futurelab |
CAERUS, which was launched at the University of Birmingham's Botanic Garden at Winterbourne, has been designed as 'a complete context aware system for tourist locations and educational centres', creating and delivering location-based multimedia information to hand-held (pocket PC) devices. The product of research into location-aware technologies at the Centre for Educational Technology and Distance Learning (CETADL), it is designed to allow the user to direct the content of their tour by physically following their interests.
By tracking user movement with GPS technology, CAERUS provides information relevant to the user's location. The information is provided orally to begin with, in this case recounting the story of the gardens, and of particular exhibitions and flowerbeds.
Sound is the dominant mode of communication used, so that the user can look at the exhibit, rather than at the technology being used. The role of the technology is to inform the visit to the botanical garden through multimodal representation, not to detract from the beauty of the surroundings by requiring too much attention. The designers hold firmly to the belief, as put forward by Naismith and Smith that "the device should exist as a guide, and not become the focus of the visit".
Information, then, is presented orally to the user, allowing them to continue to view the gardens, and it is only if the user chooses to seek further information that video, text or still images are displayed. The visitor has options as to what type of information they are interested in. For example, they can choose to be given information about the history of the gardens or the gardens in a different season.
The Location Aware Information (LAI) system is an example of a mobile/interactive system that aims to:
- present engaging text and multimedia content
- allow visitors to direct their own exploration
- provide location-sensitive information
- provide a space for reflection through review of visits.
As Naismith and Smith have stated, "by presenting information that is contextually sensitive, the visitor is able to more closely relate their physical space with their information space".
Software running on a desktop PC imports maps or plans, which are then calibrated using a tool on the hand-held device. Multimedia information can be added to regions of the map, and this is then imported to the pocket PC to give location-based information and 'flexible' multimedia tours to learners and visitors. In partnership with Microsoft and Birmingham city council, CETADL has designed this system so that it can be integrated into educational sites by experts and novices alike. In the same way, the hand-held device has been developed so that visitors to this garden can have an enriched experience whether they are experienced users of technology or not.
The setting for the launch was the University of Birmingham's Botanic Garden, originally built in 1903 as a private family garden. In its 100-year history it has developed and now houses the National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens European Rose collection. The low cloud cover meant that the GPS system gave varied responses to the different users during the afternoon. During my wander around the botanical gardens I was directed towards the 'Rose Garden', a beautiful collection that charts the history of the rose. My personal guide informed me that as I turned clockwise I would see, in turn, a collection of ancient roses, a number of new species, finishing by the bottom gate with the latest attempt at growing a blue rose.
An arrow points to the next GPS-tagged location and upon nearing it the guide tells more about what is in the area. If the location houses something of particular interest to the user then more information can be found by selecting from the onscreen menu. The opportunity to find out more information when the user requires it is an important part of the experience. Using such technology, the visitor can create a personal tour that is formed around where they choose to walk. The depth of information that is accessed is also dependent upon the user choice.
The project continues with a focus upon the measurement of usability: judging the effectiveness (the amount of time spent viewing each area), efficiency (the ability of participants to answer questions about their tour) and satisfaction (the participants' preference for the device over another). The technology already provides an exciting addition to the botanic garden, and with continued research and development offers the opportunity for widespread, personalised tours.
The name CAERUS stands for Context Aware Reference System and in Greek mythology, Caerus was the personification of opportunity and favourable moments. It seems appropriate that this system gives users the opportunity to choose such moments for themselves.
CAERUS is now being marketed as a system that can be integrated into a variety of tourist and educational sites, not only as a complete product but also as a tool that can be developed with additional functionalities for specific sites' needs. In developing this product, CETADL are inviting partners to contact them. For more information, see www.caerus.bham.ac.uk or contact caerus-info@bham.ac.uk
References
Naismith and Smith (2004). Context-Sensitive Information Delivery to Visitors in a Botanic Garden
October 2004
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