DeLVE into Earth's Past: A Visualization-Based Exhibit Deployed Across Multiple Museum Contexts

Area of Science:

• Data Visualization
• Museum Studies
• Geological Education

Background:

• Previous research successfully deployed visualizations in museums but overlooked the impact of museum context on visitor behavior.
• Understanding deep time (vast geological timescales) presents a challenge due to its abstract nature and the need for proportional reasoning skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of museum context on visitor behavior with interactive visualizations.
• To present the Deep-time Literacy Visualization Exhibit (DeLVE) designed to enhance museum visitors' understanding of deep time.
• To improve proportional reasoning skills by comparing different geological time periods.

Main Methods:

• Developed DeLVE, an interactive digital kiosk employing a novel visualization idiom, Connected Multi-Tier Ranges.
• Curated unique datasets for three distinct museum settings with input from museum staff.
• Collected data through an observational study and system trace logs.

Main Results:

• Visitor reception and engagement with similar museum exhibits varied significantly across different contexts.
• The DeLVE exhibit facilitated understanding of deep time by relating extreme scales to concrete, familiar units.
• The study highlights the critical role of contextual factors in the effectiveness of museum exhibits.

Conclusions:

• Museum context is a crucial factor influencing visitor interaction and learning with digital exhibits.
• The DeLVE visualization idiom effectively aids in communicating complex temporal data.
• Future exhibit design should prioritize contextual adaptation and visitor engagement strategies.