Leicester Castle tells its story Digital R&D Fund for the
Arts
Leicester Castle tells its storyiBeacon-based mobile
interpretation
Maria-Anna Tseliou, Research Fellow ([email protected])Giasemi
Vavoula, Principal Investigator ([email protected])School of Museum
Studies, University of Leicester Take a few seconds to introduce
yourself (give people time to note down contact details)1NESTA
R&D Fund for the Arts125k R&D grant to develop
ibeacons-based app to improve heritage interpretationTechnology
currently used in retail sector. Grant was to develop it for
heritage interpretationRequirement: replicability (many heritage
venues experience similar interpretation challenges) Project
partners: School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester
(academic partner), Locly (technology partner) , Leicester City
Council, Arts & Museums Service (arts partner),
Metro-Boulot-Dodo (content developer)
Telling the Castles storyWe wanted the project to provide more
engaging interpretation for casual visitors and ensure people left
knowing more of the Castles rich history
Interpretation challengeListed building full of court furniture
non-intrusive solution neededOpen once a month and for special
events. No permanent staffSustainable & low costRange of
audience types who are often time poorPersonalised visitor
experience
Why iBeacons?Low costLow maintenanceInvisible (c.f. QR
codes)AccurateEasy to re-programmeRequire no user action (c.f. QR
codes)Require no specialist equipmentCan capture data
iBeacon is a new technology for location recognition, with many
benefits compared to other, particularly indoor locative
technologies: it is low cost, low maintenance, works while out of
sight, gives high accuracy results, it is easy to programme and
re-programme, it requires no action on the part of the user other
than enabling bluetooth, it requires no other specialist equipment,
and it can aid the capture of location-specific usage data.5What
are iBeacons?In essence, iBeacon technology allows Mobile Apps to
understand their position on a micro-local scale, and deliver
hyper-contextual content to users based on location. Accurate
location sensing, indoors and outdoors.The underlying communication
technology is Bluetooth Low Energy(Just read it out).6How does it
work?WiFiWiFiWiFiWiFiLoclyCMSupload content
ID
IDIDA quick overview of how it works:Our system uses Loclys
ibeacon content management system and platform. The heritage site
uploads location-specific content, and uses it to structure a user
experience. We have installed WiFi in the Castle for visitor
convenience (so that they can download the app free of charge). And
have placed a number of beacons around the rooms.7Visitor
experienceWiFiWiFiWiFiWiFiLoclyCMS
ID
App storedownload Castle app
ID
IDWhen a visitor enters the Castle, (Click to annotate), the can
download the app from the iTunes store or Google Play.
(Alternatively, they can borrow one of our devices).The visitor
then starts the app, enables Bluetooth on their device, and starts
moving around the Castle (Click to annotate).
8Visitor experienceWiFiWiFiWiFiWiFiLoclyCMSID
location IDprofile /historycontent requestcontent deliveryWhen
they enter an iBeacons region, the beacon transmits its unique ID.
The app reads that ID and thereby infers the visitors location.
Depending on visitor preferences that the app already knows about
(for example, which tour they are doing), the app then shows the
visitor appropriate content from Loclys content management
system.9Visitor analysisWiFiWiFiWiFiWiFiLoclyCMSID
usage datausagedataanalyse usageAt the same, the app stores
usage data with a location mark (click to annotate) which the
heritage site can then access and analyse to understand how
visitors use the app, which locations work and which not, what
content is popular, etc.10Research and Development
All concepts, content and functionality are informed by, and
rigorously evaluated and tested on, the public
STAGE 1: Oct 2014 April 2015Audience research during Heritage
Sundays (observation, survey); Literature review Requirements
STAGE 2: May 2015 July 2015Public testing of app versions: v1.0
in May, v2.0 in June, v3.0 in July; stakeholder / potential
adopters; usability evaluationThis is a research and development
project, with research closely aligned with development and the aim
to inform as well as evaluate design decisions through public
trials.At the moment we have just finished stage 2 of the research.
The first stage included a range of surveys with Castle visitors
and visitors to other heritage sites in Leicester, visitor
observations, and a review of the literature on historic site
interpretation. These activities led to a list of requirements for
the iBeacon system, which fed into development.The second stage
evaluated three different versions of the app during three Heritage
Sundays at the Castle. I will tell you more about these
later.11Insights from the research (Stage 1)
The majority of visitors are locals, first-time visitors,
visiting in groups
First, let us have a look at the insights from the first stage
of the research.We found out that the majority of Castle visitors
are locals, coming mainly from Leicestershire, with fewer coming
from further afield and only the odd international tourist. The
majority are also first-time visitors, with only a fifth of
visitors saying that they had visited a couple of times in the
past.And the majority visit in groups of adults, with only
approximately a fifth coming with families with children and just
over 10% visiting alone.12Insights from the research (Stage
1)Seeing the Castle and learning about its history are the main
reasons for visiting, fueled by a more general interest in historic
buildings and the history of Leicester
Tours and trails, storytelling and thematically linking with
other Leicester histories would encourage them to learn new
things
(Read out the notes next to the graphs)13Insights from the
research (Stage 1)More ways to learn, tours of the Castle, more
ways for adults to engage, and improved signage would all encourage
respondents to stay longerHistorical content, mobile tours and ease
of use were among respondents top requirements for using a mobile
app
(Read out the notes next to the graphs)14Insights from the
research (Stage 1)
We observed visitors in the two Castle courtrooms and identified
a number of locations that were popular stops. We also noted where
visitors tended to stop first, as these could make potential
starting points for the tours. The stop signs indicate points where
visitors tend to stop, and their size indicates the popularity of
the stop point. The rings indicate points that tend to be the first
stop in a visitors path, with their size again indicating their
popularity as starting points. Finally, we studies the paths of
visitors inside each courtroom.The pictures on the left show
movement in the criminal courtroom of the Castle, and the pictures
on the right show movement in the civil courtroom.15What have we
done with iBeacons?We have created 4 tours:
Historical TimelineFamily TrailGreen Bicycle MurderCastle Court
Audio Tour
So what have we developed? Four tours, which guide visitors
through one or both courtrooms plus the cells in the basement, and
which make use of X number of iBeacons.16
1. Historical Timeline An Interactive Guidebook
Overview of the Castles history with key dates, events and
distinguishing architectural features.
Enables user to select information in brief or in depth.
Macro-locative use of iBeacons, at room level.
This tour is an overview of the Castles history presented
chronologically with key dates, events, and references to
distinguishing architectural features.It targets visitors with an
interest in history and utilizes beacon location identification at
room-level only, i.e. a range of content items are available to
explore once the visitor enters a courtroom. Content is presented
in chronological order and is layered, with an overview presented
at the first level, further detail at the second level, and further
related historical information presented at the third level where
available (see Fig 2). This exploration is not bound to locations
(beacons) within the room, so the user can view the same,
room-specific content, anywhere in the room. Content in this tour
includes text, images and audio clips of an interview with
archaeologist Professor Richard Buckley.172. Family TrailDesigned
to engage children 5-12 yrsTreasure hunt task and reward game
format Provides historical information about the Castle in bite
sized chunksIncludes a King Richard III element (including an
interactive feature to dig him up from the car park)
This tour targets families with children under 12, and includes
a beacon hunt disguised as a find the courtroom location activity.
The avatar of a fictional historian guides young visitors through
different locations in the two courtrooms and reveals to them what
historical research involves. At each location the avatar reveals
information about one of the significant people from the past who
were linked to the Castle: King Richard III, Simon De Montfort,
John of Gaunt, Geoffrey Chaucer, and J.M. Barrie. After finding a
location young visitors are presented with textual information
about that locations significant person, and are then challenged to
complete an interactive activity (solve a puzzle, do a virtual dig,
solve a maze, or play a memory game). On successful completion,
they see a second layer of more detailed, in-depth content.
Finally, the avatar presents a map of the courtroom with the next
location highlighted and invites the young visitors to meet him
there.Content in this tour is thus bound to beacon locations, and
young explorers are encouraged to find the courtroom locations
where content and puzzles are hidden. The use of the map helps
young users to discover the content and, in doing so, to learn what
different parts of a courtroom are called.183. Green Bicycle Murder
Audio tour featuring emotive dramatisation of the Green Bicycle
Murder trial that took place in the Castle Courts in 1920
Visitors are invited to enter the dock, sit on the jury bench
and stand in the witness box to hear key moments of this infamous
trial
Some visitors expressed concerns over a mobile device requiring
their attention at the expense of experiencing the site. This tour
targets visitors who dislike, or are physically unfit for consuming
textual/visual information on a mobile device (e.g. visually
impaired). The tour tells the story of the trial for the murder of
Bella Wright on the 5th July 1919. The story is told as an audio
drama narrated by the victim, while a meta-narrator guides visitors
through different beacon locations in the courtroom. This is an
audio-based tour that visitors are encouraged to follow while
wearing headphones. Interestingly, other visitors who are currently
in other locations within the room, help the user to visually
contextualise the experience: while sitting in the public gallery,
listening to Bella Wright talk about the trial for her murder, the
user may see other visitors occupying the Judges seat or the
witness box, serendipitously adding to the atmosphere of the
experience.194. Castle Court Audio TourMETRO-BOULOT-DODO
interviewed 15 members of the public that worked at Leicester
Castle Courts from 1962 1992.In this tour visitors listen to those
memories related to specific areas of the court. For example the
visitor can explore the cells whilst hearing from retired policemen
describing how the criminals were detained.
This tour is also audio-based and focuses on the Castles recent
history as a Crown Court from 1821, when the Great Hall was divided
up into two separate courts (the criminal court where the green
bicycle murder case was heard and a civil court), until 1992. The
tour includes 15 oral testimonies of people who worked there (court
clerks, reporters, etc.) As the visitor moves around the courtrooms
and comes within a beacons range, audio content related to that
location is triggered. Although the narrative is linked to
location, it is not bound to a specific location sequence,
therefore visitors can freely explore the courtroom. Content
includes the narrators description of a location (e.g. In the area
below the judge, sits the court clerk...) interspersed with
personal testimonies. A content counter informs users of the number
of content items that remain to be discovered at any time, however,
the user is given no guidance or instructions on which location to
look for next or how to find it.20What have we done with
iBeacons?Four approaches to beacon-based navigation:Room-level
location recognition only (Historical Timeline)Map-based ordered
beacon discovery (Family Trail)Oral instructions-based ordered
beacon discovery (Green Bicycle Murder)Unaided discovery with
visual progress feedback (Court Audio)We have thus implemented four
approaches to beacon-based navigation (read out from slide)21What
have we done with iBeacons?Four approaches to
interpretation:Interactive Guide (Historical Timeline)Game (Family
Trail)Emotive dramatisation (Green Bicycle Murder)Oral histories
(Court Audio)Each corresponding to four interpretation approaches
(read out from slide)22Insights from the research (Stage 2)
The social profiles of the app trials participants were similar
to those of the stage 1 surveys, with comparable percentages of
visitors coming in adult groups, families with children, or
visiting alone.What is remarkable is how clearly benefits increase
with the degree of completion of the four tours: in the July trial,
where all four tours were complete or near-complete, there are
significant benefits in terms of on-site dwell-time, perceived
learning benefits, and perceived level of enjoyment for visitors
who used the app in July compared to visitors who had not used the
app.23ReplicabilityInterviews and focus groups with potential
adopters from the heritage, cultural and arts sector revealed the
further potential of adopting such a digital system:
Available information through Beacons technology both indoors
and outdoors 24/7Available interpretation and learning activities
in multiple languages Layered interpretation and diverse learning
opportunities responding to different visitors preferences and
interests.
Next potential adopter workshop: 26 August 2015, Newarke Houses
Museum LeicesterTo book, email [email protected] or [email protected]
I mentioned at the beginning of the talk that one main
requirement for the project was replicability, i.e. that we end up
with a system that is readily useful and usable by other heritage
sites that face similar challenges as Leicester Castle. To this
end, we are consulting with potential adopters from the heritage,
cultural and arts sectors, through one-to-one interviews, focus
groups, and workshops. The consultation has so far told us
that:Potential adopters see the potential of iBeacon technology to
offer visitors information 24/7, both indoors and outdoors.They
also see the technologys potential to offer interpretation and
activities in multiple languages.And they appreciate its capability
to offer layered interpretation and diverse learning opportunities
to cover different visitor preferences and interests.
Our next potential adopter workshop will include a demonstration
and trial of the app, work sessions around technology adoption
issues, and a practical, hands-on session where you can design and
trial your own tour. If you are interested to participate, email
us!
24Conclusions so farA half-finished app is not better than no
app.iBeacon technology can successfully support different
approaches to interpretation and different approaches to navigation
guidance and support.Stay tuned for more findings soon
(read out the slide)25Next stepsFurther trials, development work
and focus groups planned for August
Next focus group and workshop with potential adopters from other
heritage, cultural and arts organisations in late August
Available to the public for City Festival at the end of
August
Questions?For more information contact:Giasemi Vavoula,
[email protected] (Research Lead)Sally Coleman,
[email protected] (Arts Lead)Paul Long,
[email protected] (Content Lead)Rheinallt Ffoster-Jones,
[email protected] (Technical Lead)Track 2
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