University of Twente Student Theses
Tangibits : Multimodal communication of climate change data - exploring vibration, sound and temperature
Welling, L.K. (2024) Tangibits : Multimodal communication of climate change data - exploring vibration, sound and temperature.
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Abstract: | Data physicalizations convey data through physical variables. Data physicalization research focuses on exploring novel methods on how to incorporate these physical variables for data communication. As an emerging field, empirical data concerning the impact physical variables have on data perception and user experience is lacking, especially when considering multimodal physicalizations. This paper aims to evaluate the impact multiple physical variables: vibration, temperature, and sound, have on data perception and user experience, including combinations of these variables to evaluate a multimodal installation. Data physicalizations require use case data, the decision was made to use climate change data for the installation. As it is a current issue with plenty of data and visualizations already existing, yet lacking multimodal installations. In the case of this research, the physicalization represents three climate change indicators: sea temperature, air temperature, and land precipitation, across 5 regions: Greenland, the North sea, the Indonesian sea, Antarctica, and the East Bering sea, in a timeframe from 1960 to 2090 using future climate change projections. To evaluate the different modalities, a data physicalization was designed that allowed users to select a region, indicator, and year, users will then feel the data through either one or two of the modalities. Consequently, this data physicalization was evaluated on the basis of efficiency, accuracy, mental load and, subjective confidence through a between-subject user study involving 24 participants. The results of the user evaluation showed no statistical significance to assume the modalities had an impact on the data perception and user experience. All modalities and combinations of modalities are assumed to be equal on the evaluated variables. Furthermore, no statistical significant evidence was found when comparing participants engaging with a single modality against participants engaging with a combination of modalities. To find whether there is truly no difference between modalities, it is recommended to repeat the study with a larger sample size. |
Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
Faculty: | EEMCS: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science |
Subject: | 50 technical science in general |
Programme: | Creative Technology BSc (50447) |
Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/98310 |
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