Skip to main content

Evaluation of Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) for and with Children – Methods and Challenges

  • Conference paper
Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction Platforms and Techniques (HCI 2007)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 4551))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

In recent years, creating alternative computer environments, especially Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) for children, has become increasingly popular. However, up till now, the evaluation of tangible technologies has been rather scarce. This paper focuses on evaluating children’s technologies that go beyond the desktop computer. A qualitative case study on our TUI prototype will be presented by using selected methods: Think Aloud (TA), Peer Tutoring (PT) and Drawing Intervention (DI). We found some limitations to the methods and there were lessons that were learnt when the evaluation studies were carried out with children. The research will contribute to the paradigms, such as the design and evaluation of ‘the disappearing computer‘ and ‘tangible computing‘.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Lancashire Museums, School Loans Service (2007), [cited 2007 10 February] available from: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/museums/learning/schoolloans.asp.

  2. Ishii, H., Ullmer, B.: Tangible Bits: Towards Seamless Interfaces Between People, Bits and Atoms. In: CHI 1997 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Atlanta GA USA, ACM Press, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ullmer, B., Ishii, H.: Emerging Frameworks for Tangible User Interfaces. In: Carroll, J.M. (ed.) Human-Computer Interaction inthe New Millennium, pp. 579–601. Addison-Wesley, London, UK (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hornecker, E., Buur, J.: Getting a Grip on Tangible Interaction: A Framework on Physical Space and Social Interaction. In: CHI 2006 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2006, Montreal, Canada, ACM Press, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Xu, D., Mazzone, E., MacFarlane, S.: Informant Design with Children - Designing Children’s Tangible Technology. In: International Workshop Re-Thinking Technology in Museums, Limerick, Ireland (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. O’Malley, C., Fraser, D.S.: Literature Review in Learning with Tangible Technologies, NESTA Futurelab (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  7. MacFarlane, S., et al.: Tutorial: Evaluating interactive products with and for children. In: Conference of Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2004) Vienna, Austria (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hanna, L., Risden, K., Alexander, K.: Guidelines for Usability Testing with Children. Interactions 5, 9–14 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Donker, A., Markopoulos, P.: A comparison of Think-aloud, Questionnaires and Interviews for testing usability with children. In: The 16th BCS British-HCI 2002. London, UK (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Read, J.C., MacFarlane, S.J., Casey, C.: Endurability, Engagement and Expectations: Measuring Children’s Fun. In: Interaction Design and Children Workshop, Eindhoven, Netherland (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kesteren, I.E.H.v.e.a.: Assessing usability evaluation methods on their effectiveness to elicit verbal information from children subjects. In: IDC 2003, Preston, England, ACM Press, New York (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Markopoulos, P., Bekker, M.: On the assessment of usability testing methods for children. Interacting with Computers 15(2), 227–243 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Als, B.S., Jensen, J.J., Skov, M.B.: Exploring verbalization and collaboration of constructive interaction with children. In: Interact, Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 2005. Rome, Italy (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Baauw, E., Bekker, M.M.: A comparison of two analytical evaluation methods for children’s computer games. In: Interact, Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 2005. Rome, Italy (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Erikson, K.A., Simon, H.A.: Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports on Data. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Miyake, N.: Constructive Interaction and the Iterative Process of Understanding. Cognitive Science 10(2), 151–177 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Monk, A., et al.: Improving your human computer interface: a practical approach. Prentice Hall International, Englewood Cliffs (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hoysniemi, J., Hamalainen, P., Turkki, L.: Using peer tutoring in evaluating the usability of a physically interactive computer game with children. Interacting with Computers 15(2), 203–225 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Barendregt, W., Bekker, M.M.: Development and Evaluation of the Picture Cards Method. In: Interact 2005 Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 2005. Rome, Italy (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Scarlatos, L.L.: TICLE: using multimedia multimodal guidance to enhance learning Information Sciences—Informatics and Computer Science. An International Journal 140(1), 85–103 (2002)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Price, S., et al.: Using tangibles to promote novel forms of playful learning. Interacting with Computers 15(2), 169–185 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wakkary, R., Hatala, M.: ec(h)o: Situated Play in a Tangible and Audio Museum Guide. In: Designing Interactive Systems 2006, DIS 2006. University Park, Pennsylvania, USA (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chipman, G., et al.: A case study of tangible flags: a collaborative technology to enhance field trips. In: Proceeding of the 2006 conference on Interaction design and children, Tampere, Finland, ACM Press, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Julie A. Jacko

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Xu, D., Read, J.C., Mazzone, E., MacFarlane, S., Brown, M. (2007). Evaluation of Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) for and with Children – Methods and Challenges. In: Jacko, J.A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction Platforms and Techniques. HCI 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4551. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73107-8_111

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73107-8_111

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-73106-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-73107-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics