Richard,

The "good interactive computer/bad interactive computer" sounds very much like the recent thread regarding "good exhibits/bad exhibits".....there are a lot of reasons why an interactive computer might not be very effective (such as the quality of the software, the time required to
get any meaningful result for the user, other distracting exhibit modules nearby, etc. etc.).   I would review the criteria of the study very closely as well as the limited (13!) number of institutions that were analyzed before I made any fast conclusion one way or t'other.

Shirley Albright
New Jersey State Museum

"Richard S. White" wrote:

> Re computers as interactives:
>
> I've been told (by one of the participants) of a recent study done at 13
> zoos and museums looking at the effectiveness of interactive computer
> stations.  Observations were made of the number of people (as %of visitors,
> I assume) who stopped at such displays, and how long they spent there.  The
> conclusion of the study was that interactive computers do not attract the
> attention of either kids or adults, and little time is spent at them, and
> often nothing beyond the initial screen.
>
> As soon as I can find out where it is being published, or any other details,
> I'll pass the information along.  Huge implications for those of us who have
> spent, or are about to spend, big bucks on computers.
>
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