Summary responses to 1st Phase User Testing – 1845 Story
Common Themes
Recommendation
Tell me where I am
Provide a site map
Have a back button always available
Differentiate between main and interactive menu
buttons
Do not include during documentary
Include in scene selections
Provide documentary on separate DVD
“Explore” button is jarring/confusing
(many didn’t press because they wanted to continue watching doc)
People miss the story slug/theme in the drill down
Story structure described as choppy, uneven, repetitive
Create chapter/scene titles and descriptions
similar to Bleeding Through or Wanderings
Each script should add/ build on the main story, not
repeat it
“Chapter Selection” wording confusing
Change to story or scene selection
Difficulty getting to interactive menu
Include as option on main menu
Video movies are unexpected/confused with documentary
Letter-box them & include subtitle
Include back button/indicator of length/where you
are in video
Have length apparent prior to viewing (from the
menu, but in a consistent yet unobtrusive place)
Avoid repetition between videos and documentary
(both words and images)
Allow choice between video and interactive (don’t
have movie play automatically)
Common Themes
Recommendation
“Play Introduction” wording is confusing/not what they expected
Replace with how to use the DVD and/or
Life and Legacy movie
Not sure what they’ll get with the Comparison or Perspectives options
Include comparison with artwork choice
Combine Perspectives/Comparison to give context
to impact of change/speculate on Kane conundrum
People enjoy the artwork and journey sections
Build on these, improve quality of some blurred
images, add zoom feature
Confusion around wording of buttons “sketches” “comparison”
In “Journey” they always chose “Kane’s route” first
Map icons (boat, canoe, etc.) unclear
Use travel maps and journey footage as much as
possible
Slow down pacing of map to allow for SFX, text
allow icons to stay on screen longer
In “Kane’s journal” the text comparison too buried
Make this another option “In Kane’s words”
People enjoy the interactivity in comparison, artwork and journal
Increase interactive options including
Adding zoom feature, more comparisons, etc.
Timeline of what? - Kane’s life/artwork?
Increase font size/intensity
Increase image size - Divide into three screens?
Change location of timeline on page
Include more archival images
Find another word for “timeline”
(Most thought images on timeline were Kane’s paintings)
Once explained, people like the concept of timeline
Common Themes
Recommendation
Set-up Menu – what does interactive on/off mean?
Remove option from Set-up Menu
Add “help” after on/off
Include Interactive option in main menu
Does interactive mean bonus features or a different way to view?
Aren’t DVD’s already interactive?
Make the experience more organic
Reduce the number of layers/menus, dissolve rather
than cut between DVD transitions
Limitation of DVD stand alone unit
-inability to search
-unfamiliarity/uniformity of remote
-people watch DVD movies first and then explore second
-people expect to interact in same way they would a computer mouse
Provide a DVD-Rom with search feature
General Comments/Observations
Recommendation
People really like the interactive menu once they get there
“nuggets of gold” that take mining
give you the chance to “nibble”
fascinated by the depth
would spend a lot of time using it
Often I didn’t know what to expect, but I wasn’t disappointed
Make sure people can access from main menu
Put doc and interactive on separate DVDs
Clear instructions either in intro or written
Flexibility of use/chapter selections is big selling point for teachers – the layers are good (but only if clear)
For a teacher, certain subjects are of immediate interest, others would only be used as “asides” or “for curiosity’s sake” (ie.
comparison features).
PKI’s ability to interlink between many aspect in curriculum is invaluable in a teaching tool.
Also for teachers, this is seen as a great tool: especially if it came with a map/architecture/comprehensive guide for the teacher.
Would be a great way to start/end classes
Fragmented nature good for students’ attention span, but complicated architecture will lose them (most A/V materials right now are
too lengthy)
Like clarity of images/music/production values of videos
Well written and edited
Common Themes
Recommendation
Positive reaction to voice and personality of Kane
A few negative comments about narrator (Tantoo and Louise)
Use Native storyteller as narrator
Design elements and artwork are too faint/small
Increase intensity/size of artwork and font –
zoom in and moves on artwork
Reduce white space where possible
Handwritten font and brush strokes of titles artistic – although hard to see
Reduce kerning, increase font size/intensity
People work downward on main menu, clockwise on interactive menu
Use this hierarchy to structure stories
Comments on Applicability to Museum use
Everyone thought it would be applicable and had great potential
The two should be consistent
People should always know how long things will be a an exhibit
-people see interactive exhibits as providing context for the artifacts/artwork in terms of popular culture/political/historical times
-story of Paul Kane’s life important to include
comparison tool seen as being very applicable
-interactive menu would be perfect to pick from, so would the timeline
Sample (thus far)
Seekers: Terri Tenberg, Ben Bogart, Patrick Lavalley, Monica Bodirsky, Philomena Chechock-Henhawke, Kat Mullally
Wanderers: Mary Kay and Christine Brown, Louise Kelly, Gloria Reinbergs, Michael Forman
Teachers: Greg Hobson, Grant Wilson
Students: Autumn & Chandel Gambles (Grade 9 & 11)