scholarly journals Assessing the Impacts of Engaging with a Touch Table on Safari Park Visitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-381
Author(s):  
Naomi Davies ◽  
Ellie Sowerby ◽  
Bridget Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Informal Education ◽  
Dwell Time ◽  
Average Dwell Time ◽  
Educational Facilities ◽  
Surface Level ◽  
The Public ◽  
Group Type ◽  
Education Tool ◽  
Group Engagement ◽  
New Location

Modern zoos are increasingly viewed as educational facilities, with informal education programmes attempting to engage with visitors through a wide variety of methods. A ‘touch table’ consists of two collapsible tables which display a variety of artefacts to the public. This study investigated visitor engagement with touch tables alongside types of conversations being initiated by visitors. Covert observations recorded the type of groups visiting, their dwell time, perceived engagement level and the types of interactions and conversations they were initiating at the touch table. Dwell time was affected by the season, member of staff present, type of group visiting the touch table and engagement level of the group. Engagement level was also affected by group type. Longer average dwell time and higher engagement levels were displayed at a long-established touch table location, whereas more visitors engaged at the touch table when it was at a new location with predicted high footfall. Here, 68.3% of visitors initiated ‘surface level’ conversation, 27.2% initiated ‘deeper level’ conversation and 89.6% initiated ‘other’ conversation. This study resulted in touch table offerings being adapted to further increase their effectiveness as an informal education tool and to suggests ways in which touch tables can continue in a post COVID-19 world.

The Use of Eye Tracking to Discern the Threshold at Which Metopic Orbitofrontal Deformity Attracts Attention

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 1392-1401
Author(s):  
Mark P. Pressler ◽  
Emily L. Geisler ◽  
Rami R. Hallac ◽  
James R. Seaward ◽  
Alex A. Kane
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Dwell Time ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Average Dwell Time ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Gaze Patterns ◽  
Areas Of Interest

Introduction and Objectives: Surgical treatment for trigonocephaly aims to eliminate a stigmatizing deformity, yet the severity that captures unwanted attention is unknown. Surgeons intervene at different points of severity, eliciting controversy. This study used eye tracking to investigate when deformity is perceived. Material and Methods: Three-dimensional photogrammetric images of a normal child and a child with trigonocephaly were mathematically deformed, in 10% increments, to create a spectrum of 11 images. These images were shown to participants using an eye tracker. Participants’ gaze patterns were analyzed, and participants were asked if each image looked “normal” or “abnormal.” Results: Sixty-six graduate students were recruited. Average dwell time toward pathologic areas of interest (AOIs) increased proportionally, from 0.77 ± 0.33 seconds at 0% deformity to 1.08 ± 0.75 seconds at 100% deformity ( P < .0001). A majority of participants did not agree an image looked “abnormal” until 90% deformity from any angle. Conclusion: Eye tracking can be used as a proxy for attention threshold toward orbitofrontal deformity. The amount of attention toward orbitofrontal AOIs increased proportionally with severity. Participants did not generally agree there was “abnormality” until deformity was severe. This study supports the assertion that surgical intervention may be best reserved for more severe deformity.

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