In our research project we use a multi-method approach in an iterative process between writing, reflecting on the theoretical aspects of the project, and making experiments as a form of practice-based research grounded in a situated design practice prototyping, testing, documenting and evaluating the robot guided museum tour.
We started our project by conducting preliminary participant observations of museum guided tours at Medical Museion. We also interviewed museum guides about their role and function at the museum.
Our process and development of designing the robot guided tour started out at the Medical Museion through a collaboration with one of the museum tour guides, Thorbjørn Bornhøft, who co-developed the script for the robot guide. Then we designed the gesticulations and movements of the robot in the lab. We piloted the first design at the Medical Museion, evaluating the event with a few museum visitors in situ. The first pilot study took place on September 20th 2015 at Medical Museion. Approximately 15 museum guests participated in the robot guided museum tour, an event which took 15-20 minutes. Three people agreed to participate in 30 min long semi-structured interviews afterwards. Then we adjusted the design at the lab and tested this at the Medical Museion a few day later. The second pilot test took place on September 23rd, primarily testing the adjustments based on the video documentation and interviews made with the participants in the first pilot study. In the second pilot study approximately 10 museum guests participated and nobody was interviewed afterwards. Their responses to the museum robot intervention, however, were very useful in adjusting the script further preparing the actual experiment at Medical Museion conducted in February 2016.
The actual experiment was conducted at Medical Museion in February 2016 with 24 students whereof 10 gave us permission to use their interviews. All of the students participating in the robot intervention at Medical Museion has given us permission to use the empirical data from this experiment (video documentation and interviews).
Therobotatthemuseum 