Interactive Visual Media for Geomorphological Heritage Interpretation. Theoretical Approach and Examples

Based on the argument that understanding is a key for raising awareness about geoheritage among non-specialists, this paper presents specific techniques for the interpretation of geomorphological features through the use of interactive visual media. It focuses on the use of interactive functions to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGeoheritage Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 149 - 157
Main Author Martin, Simon
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2014
Subjects
Biogeosciences
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Historical Geology
Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning
Mineralogy
Original Article
Paleontology
Physical Geography
Learning
Multimedia
Web mapping
Web application
Visual media
Interactivity
Interpretation
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Summary:Based on the argument that understanding is a key for raising awareness about geoheritage among non-specialists, this paper presents specific techniques for the interpretation of geomorphological features through the use of interactive visual media. It focuses on the use of interactive functions to go beyond the design or cartographic limits of classic visual media with the aid of interactivity, multimedia, and animation. The effects of these numerical technologies on learning are also discussed following results in media and cognitive psychology. To exemplify how technologies like interactivity or multimedia extend the possible uses of schemes and maps for geo-interpretation, three original web applications are presented. They are mash-ups (web application hybrid) of several tools such as web mapping, interactive vector drawing, animated schemes, pictures, etc. Each application also has a different level of interactivity and follows a specific educative approach, namely explanation, experimentation or exploration. This paper focuses only on the media part of interpretation. In order to follow a global approach of interpretation (presented in this paper), other aspects should be taken into account, in particular audience and message issues. In the second stage of the research, the use and appreciation of the web application will be tested by different audiences. For this purpose, a user tracking system has been implemented in the applications that will supplement the data obtained by questionnaires.
ISSN:1867-2477
1867-2485
DOI:10.1007/s12371-014-0107-y