GATHERING REQUIREMENTS TO DEVELOP OUTDOOR MOBILE CULTURAL GUIDES IN THE FIELD

Abstract

This work is concerned with the waysmultimodal representations can be used to form a messageand how a visitor’s experience can thereby be improved incultural heritage settings. It concentrates on how touristsbehave and the kinds of information they require in locationbasedcontexts. Twenty participants took a tour of publicmonuments in Brighton, on the south east coast of England.They were equipped with a booklet describing themonuments, blending text, photographs and a map. Fromour observations of these tourists, 33 requirements weregathered, covering issues of presentation, context andcontent. Additionally, the study gave insights into culturalbackground differences, collaboration, comparison ofinformation, the need for basic information about historicalsubjects, interest in monuments outside the booklet andenvironmental factors. The results served as the basis fordeveloping a mobile guide application.Index Terms ⎯ Design Methodologies, Informationinterfaces and presentation, Mobile guides, User-centredDesign.