INF-Based Tracking and Characterization of Museum Visitor Paths and Behaviors Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons

Abstract

This article presents a study that analyzes the visitor experience by using location data collected through Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons. A visual analysis of the visitors’ behavior and interactions with the artworks at the Ateneo Art Gallery, the first museum of modern art in the Philippines, was conducted. The Immediate, Near, Far (INF) framework was built on top of earlier studies to provide a finer approximation of the visitors’ location in an enclosed space. It was used to operationalize the different metrics used to characterize visitors’ behaviors and such behaviors vis-á-vis tracked museum areas such as Holding Power and Attraction Power. Two additional metrics were introduced—the Re-Attraction Power and Nearness. This work strives to contribute to research on museum visitorship particularly within a developing world context.

Advanced systems and technologies for the enhancement of user experience in cultural spaces: an overview

“…One of the methods primarily used in museums to understand and improve experience is represented by questionnaires or feedback forms to be filled at the end of the visit, to collect information on demographic characteristics, on the motivation and frequency of the visits [55]. Aiming to increase the number of visitors and to build audience loyalty, the results of the questionnaires are used to provide useful information for the design of exhibitions, spaces and programs that would be able to encourage recurring visits [56].…”

“…Despite the ease of implementation of this method, it does not allow to obtain information on real-time interaction with artifacts and space during the visit [55], on the quality of contents and on the efficiency of the means for conveying information. In the process of user-artifact-space interaction, the aim is enhancing the emotional impact of the visiting experience and increasing the engagement of an extended range of users by satisfying different requirements and adapting paths to the various audience needs.…”

“…In the case of internal fruition paths, tracking systems based on sensors for active or passive localization of visitors may be used. Specifically, active localization requires visitors to use a device during the visit in order to acquire information and transfer them to a system able to determine the position within space [55,58]. In this category there are technologies such as Bluetooth, infrared, RFID, ultra-wideband, wireless network, ZigBee radio frequencies [58].…”

“…At the same time, they can provide further information to the museum allowing a possible reorganization of the exhibition layout, of the space and the institution, such as updating the visiting times considering the number of visitors, further enhancing specific artifacts or museum spaces. Analyzing the visitors' behavior, the visiting time and itinerary, the choice to stop in specific areas of the museum instead of others could provide information on the main points of interest within the museum path and they may be able to support curators in assessing the entire exhibition [55] in order to improve user experience.…”