Examining Computer–Supported 3D Event Recreation for Enhancing Cognitive Load, Memorability, and Engagement

Ross T Smith,Mark Kohler,Bruce H Thomas,Andrew Cunningham,Ruochen Cao,James Walsh

doi:10.3390/mti4030037

Ross T Smith, Mark Kohler + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/mti4030037

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Abstract

Three-dimensional rendering technologies have long been utilized for explanatory purposes in scientific visualization and related areas. Their applications to wider fields, however, have often been limited. In this paper, we explore the use of 3D model and animation techniques, combined with narrative techniques, for recreating event-based information to aid understanding. An empirical experiment was conducted which examined the effectiveness of 3D model images and 3D animation videos compared to reading narratives in textual form. The results indicated that both forms of 3D graphical techniques positively supported users in terms of cognitive load, recall, and engagement over reading text.

Highlights

While textual description is still the most common way to communicate facts in law enforcement, static text documents have limitations that may hinder the efficiency of people that must rely on those methods to understand court cases
In order to validate that the different narratives did not affect the results, we compared the data between narratives
In order to test whether static images of 3D models and 3D animations can improve the effectiveness of presenting narratives, we compared the collected data between different conditions

Summary

Introduction

While textual description is still the most common way to communicate facts (as narrative) in law enforcement, static text documents have limitations that may hinder the efficiency of people that must rely on those methods to understand court cases. Text alone cannot effectively recreate how a case with many spatial and temporal elements unfolded. In a law enforcement and court scenario, the general public may be required to consume these cases as a member of jury in a court of law. Other methods may significantly improve recall and engagement in such scenarios, factors that are crucial to reaching a fair verdict. We examine the use of computer-generated 3D content videos for representing narratives of many cases. This work is part of a larger project with the Data to Decisions Cooperative Research Centre (https://www.d2dcrc.com.au/) and the Australian Federal

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