Mobile Scenario (Ken and Mark at an Art Museum)

Ken and Mark are two friends, in their mid-twenties, who decide to visit the Hamilton Art Gallery on a Saturday afternoon. Mark is on vacation visiting friends, and as the two both are creative individuals, they've decided to spend the afternoon looking at art.

When paying for their ticket, the two notice a sign informing them of the mobile tour application available for iPhones or iTouch. The two then make their way to the permanent collection and start looking at the various works on the wall.

The two start looking at similar works together, exchanging words in a quiet manner. As they progress through the gallery, Ken tends to take more time looking at each work, and reading descriptions of objects, whereas Mark tends to move more quickly through the space, only spending time at works that interest him.

While reading a short description of one of the works (located on a plaque beside the work), Ken notices that he can find out more information by entering the work ID number into the iPhone application. Ken removes his iPhone from his jacket pocket, and enters the identification number of the work. After typing the number in, the application brings up the "artifact card" which displays an image and brief description with information on the life of the artist, the historical context in which the work was created, and which art movement the work is associated with. This additional information allows Ken better understand the painting, and he spends another minute or two observing the painting.

Meanwhile, Mark has made his way into the adjacent room, having walked by a dozen or more works without spending much time in front of them. As not to go too far ahead, Mark returns to see Ken standing in front of a painting, looking down at his iPhone screen. Mark says "find anything interesting?", to which Ken replies "yeah, this one is about the fire at Fort York". "where and when was that?" asked Mark. Ken then shares some information with Mark regarding the historical context of the work that he has gleaned from the information on the iPhone application. After a brief discussion, Mark moves ahead on his own, taking a second look at the works in the room, however none of them really peak his interest.

Mark moves into the next room again, and decides to spend some time learning about one of the portraits that he finds interesting. As he is waiting for Ken who moves much slower through the gallery, he sits down on one of the benches, and opens the mobile application on his own iTouch. Mark scans through the written description and is particularly interested in how this work relates to other works on display. He is able to use the "related works" feature, which provides him with an interesting visualization of the various works related to the one he is sitting in front of. He is able to see relations between art movement, subject matter, material and other criteria. He presses on one the pieces related by "art movement", which brings up the work's "artifact card". He does this several times, looking at an artifact's image. If the image interests him, he reads the description, if not, he goes back to the visualization and chooses another work to look at. Mark does this for a few minutes until Ken meets up with him again.

Mark then shares information with Ken about the portrait along with pointing out several other works in the room that are related to it (that he gleaned from the mobile application). They stand in front of the various related works, with Mark quietly explaining what the works are about. After Mark takes Ken to the particular works of interest, Ken takes some time at those works that Mark skipped over, sometimes taking out his iPhone if the work peaks his interest.

They go through the entire gallery in this manner, with Ken taking his time, wanting to absorb each work, and Mark moving ahead, and periodically checking-in with his friend to exchange thoughts.