Knowledge Generation in Technology-Enhanced Health Exhibitions: Using Eye-Tracking Methods to Understand Audience Knowledge Generation in Health Promotion Exhibitions

This paper presents results from eye-tracking studies of audience interaction and knowledge generation in the technology-enhanced health promotion exhibition PULSE at a science centre in Copenhagen, Denmark. The main purpose of the study was to understand what types of knowledge audiences build in health promotion exhibitions designed to include direct physical interaction. The current study is part of the larger PULSE project, which aims to develop innovative health promotion activities that include a science museum exhibition as a key setting. The primary target group is families with children age 6–12. Health promotion technologies are defined here, as technologies designed specifically for the purpose of health promotion, be they educational or focused on physical activities. The study was conducted in late 2015 and comprised eight families with children in 2nd-6th grade visiting the science centre. Eye-tracking glasses and qualitative interviews were used to collect data. Before entering the PULSE exhibition, one adult in each family group and one child in each school group were asked to wear eye-tracking equipment while interacting with various installations. Primarily adult test persons were chosen because wearing the eye-tracking glasses seemed less of an intrusion for adult visitors than for children. The glasses recorded audio, video and gaze point from the test person’s point of view. All members of each group were interviewed briefly following their interaction with the exhibition to understand how they had experienced the exhibition, what they saw as the thematic focus and if they thought they had gained new knowledge from the activities. Results from the project indicated that the participants gained knowledge linked to both health fitness topics and social aspects. Results also showed that the exhibition supported both themes related to discovering new types of physical activity and themes of collaboration and social family activity.