Active experience of audiovisual cultural content: the virtual binocular interface

Abstract: This paper describes the main novel developments which have been introduced and experimented with in “Viaggiatori di Sguardo”, a permanent interactive installation. The objectives and resulting interaction design choices are briefly explained, and the system architecture briefly sketched. Then, the paper focuses on the novel full-body pointing interaction mechanism based on the mimicking of the use of binoculars. The permanent installation “Viaggiatori di Sguardo” was opened on December 2009 at Palazzo Ducale, Fondazione per la Cultura, Genova, and has been visited up to now by about 5,000 visitors. Results from the evaluation of such a novel interface are presented, and future developments briefly discussed.