Touchscreen Kiosk Design
A rapid prototype design for a touchscreen kiosk for visitors of The Aquarium to celebrate World Wetlands Day through exploration and education of the regional wetlands, different types of wetlands, and the interconnectedness between the wetlands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the catchment areas.
RESTING SCREEN
HOME SCREEN: MAIN
HOME SCREEN: DROPDOWN MENUS
“REGIONAL SHOWCASE” INTERACTIVE SCREEN: MAIN
“REGIONAL SHOWCASE” INTERACTIVE SCREEN: TOWNSVILLE
“REGIONAL SHOWCASE” INTERACTIVE SCREEN: CAIRNS
“REGIONAL SHOWCASE” INTERACTIVE SCREEN: MACKAY
“REGIONAL SHOWCASE” INTERACTIVE SCREEN: FITZROY
DESIGN CHOICES
This design meets the diverse audience by including a “language selection” option, text with symbols, large font size with high contrast, and thoughtful interactivity that gives each user full control. The combination of these design choices is created to accommodate learners at different age levels, with different levels of expertise, and with different native languages. Additionally, the design handles the extensive content that has been requested by paring back the themes to the original six topics and including the most relevant and engaging materials in each topic. The Aboriginal perspective can be incorporated effectively by including a StoryTime presentation in one of the original six topic areas, particularly in “The Value of Wetlands”.
The constraints of the case are considered by limiting the use of animations to the topics where they will be most effective, and instead using graphics that will successfully represent the other topics. Further, interactivity is included in the navigation of the software and the presentation of content to keep the user engaged and stimulated, while simultaneously limiting the development of visual material that would be costly and time-consuming to create. Finally, the design works within a kiosk setting because it is developed specifically for a touch-screen interface, with large buttons, consistent icons and menu items, and user-friendly navigation that allows each user to access the content that they choose, in the order of their choosing. The text is legible from up close and from a distance, and there is no “right order” in which the content should be explored. Like the aquarium and zoo, learners are invited to explore the information and environment: in the kiosk, they explore the content through the touch-screen interface. In this sense, the design aligns with the kiosk affordance of touch-screen interactivity and graphical engagement that highlights and reinforces the selected content topics, especially those that cannot be experienced first-hand at The Aquarium.
Reference:
Ertmer, P. A., Quinn, J. A., & Glazewski, K. D. (2019). The ID CaseBook: Case studies in instructional design (5th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN-13: 978-1138552302. ISBN-10: 1138552305.
