Abstract
Governments and national bodies are increasingly concerned with promoting outdoor activity as a means to benefit general health and wellbeing. Techniques to encourage and popularize engagement with the outdoor environment should therefore be welcome. This paper explores the use of a touch table as a method to facilitate discussions about people’s engagement with rural and urban landscapes through recreational walking. We describe a study in north-east Scotland involving 22 participants who undertook walks of their choice using GPS smartphone applications to track their routes. Tracked routes were uploaded to a touch table and small group sessions explored spatial behavior in, and perceptions and knowledge of, local landscapes. Individual interviews 4–6 weeks later elicited reflections on the touch table session and personal engagement with the landscape. Two types of findings are reported: (i) observations and recommendations relating to the use of a touch table in combination with GPS applications; and (ii) knowledge exchange and insights afforded by group discussion and individual reflection. We conclude that our approach is a promising participatory method through which to investigate spatial behavior and promote recreational opportunities in the landscape.
Highlights
Touch tables are large user-friendly surface computers similar to hand-held tablet devices, capable of supporting multi-touch applications
This paper reports on a study using a touch table to explore spatial behavior in the local landscape, and as a method to facilitate discussions about people’s perceptions and knowledge of local landscapes
The walking routes ranged in distance from 2.1 km to 15.83 km
Summary
Touch tables are large user-friendly surface computers similar to hand-held tablet devices, capable of supporting multi-touch applications. Touch tables make it possible for people to share, collaborate and explore together using large screens that react to fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen. Still a relatively novel technology, touch tables are increasingly used in a variety of contexts. Touch tables can be found in airports, hotels and showrooms as a means of providing local information and advertising products. The ubiquity of touch-based devices such as tablets and smartphones mean that touch tables are non-threatening and appealing devices with which to engage. As Ryall et al (2006) observe, people seem to find touch tables and their applications “less intimidating, and often more playful, than a traditional computer desktop environment.” As Ryall et al (2006) observe, people seem to find touch tables and their applications “less intimidating, and often more playful, than a traditional computer desktop environment.” (p. 95)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
