Oceanus2 Stimuli Control Test
Friday, August 5, 2011
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Overhang of Purnell Center, Carnegie Mellon University
Objective of control test: To get passersby to look up at visual and audio stimuli
Hypothesis:
If visual and audio stimuli that contrast with natural environment are presented on a surface above head height perception, then passersby will look up towards such stimuli.
Test Results:
Passersby pay most attention to closest stimuli
Approx. 130 people total passed by. Total average look-up rate was approximately 30%
When content was changed to be abstract animation, look-up rate rose to 45%
People first looked to where the sound was coming from
Things that caused interference:
Visual table setup
On-ground speakers; people looked for the sound on the ground and didn’t look up
Outside environment; sunshine was too bright for projection to be noticeably visible
Size of projected images; projection was too small for the distance away from people
What made people look up:
Leading (other people looking up and pointing to the screen)
Sound effects
People seeing themselves via live cam feed
Motion graphics
Posters on the outside wall of Purnell Center
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa9WeHr5PJU
Things we learned:
Must stress to GL placement of speakers be above head height for directional sound
The flashier and more vibrant the visual stimuli, the more people will look at stimuli
Some people don’t like to see themselves onscreen while others do
Children notice images onscreen before adults; prompt adults to look up