Visitors often go to cultural heritage locations, such as historic houses, with companions. Many seek what has sometimes been called a "learning-oriented" experience. To facilitate learning, institutions typically present information through guidebooks and prerecorded audio guides as well as through labeled exhibits and docent-led tours. However, sharing the experience with companions is often a higher priority than learning, particularly for infrequent visitors. Unfortunately, existing presentation methods interfere with the interaction among visitors. For example, visitors frequently complain that audio tours with headphones isolate them from their companions, and visitors have few opportunities to interact effectively with each other while docents "lecture" to them.

We are interested in identifying electronic guidebook designs that facilitate rather than hinder social interaction.

Sotto Voce has been tested in several rooms at Filoli, a historic house in Woodside, California. Interviews and observation indicate that visitors who use Sotto Voce are able to balance their attention, attending to the guidebook, their companion, and their environment. Detailed examination of visitor interaction (using the sociological method of conversation analysis) shows that visitors assign Sotto Voce a role in their conversations, verbally responding to it and treating it like a human storyteller. This promotes visitor interaction while preserving each visitor’s ability to select objects.

Guidebook Details

Sotto Voce uses a visual interface that helps visitors maintain visual flow and reduces demands on visitor attention. Transient tap tips indicate imagemap targets as needed.

		The visitor rotates the imagemap view using an action button.
		Tapping on an object plays the associated description.
		Tap tips appear after the visitor taps the screen without hitting a target. The tips disappear automatically.
The most recent version of Sotto Voce also incorporates a feature called eavesdropping that promotes shared activity by allowing companions to hear each other’s audio content even when headphones are used.  We use single ear headphones to ensure that the visitor can hear their companion.

Study Details

We have conducted multiple user studies in cooperation with Filoli.  Some studies were conducted under very controlled conditions at times when the house was closed to the general public, with extensive video and audio recording.  We have also had over forty visitors try the device as part of a normal visit to the house on a regular open day, with more limited recording.  In all cases, we have conducted post-trial interviews with study participants.

Please see our publications for more details and results.