Creating a playful digital catalogue system using technology-enhanced physical objects

Abstract

This paper presents a digital catalogue interactive system for promoting cultural heritage and tourism information in public spaces, which employs the notions of playful and tangible interaction. The system features two touch screens, one for displaying high resolution images and one for providing detailed information regarding the presented artifact. Navigation in the contents of the digital catalogue is accomplished through interaction with technology-enhanced physical objects as well as touch gestures. The paper presents how the system has been adapted in terms of content and interaction and physical design to accommodate different types of information and installation contexts, namely an oil mill to present culinary information, a digital museum catalogue, a digital cultural heritage photo album, and a digital nature observatory.