. Based on an analysis of more than 100.000 instances
of information retrieval from the M3 guide in the LiMo
exhibition, we found that showcase number, vertical position, size,
exhibits' authenticity, hits on Google, as well as being labeled as
highlights on an introductory sheet significantly predicted whether
visitors accessed additional information about an exhibit, whereas
an exhibit's color and legibility, as well as whether the exhibit
contained writings were of no predictive value.
The findings are compatible with a tentative model of visitors'
exhibit selection that includes position in gallery, visible features of
the exhibits, and an exhibit's popularity as relevant factors. Given
that selection proceeds on a moment-by-moment basis, visitors
have to notice possible exhibits, evaluate them in terms of characteristics
that can be seen from a distance, approach them, and
decide whether to inspect them more closely or to turn their
attention to another exhibit. In the model, different types of exhibit
characteristics contribute to the process of selecting, approaching,
and scrutinizing an exhibit at different stages. In particular, the
probability of noticing and approaching an exhibit will be influenced
by its horizontal and vertical position in the gallery. The
features of an exhibit that can be identified from a distance also
contribute to selection. In the present study, this was the case both
for the exhibit's size and for its status as memorabilia, handwritten,
typewritten, or printed document, but not for color as well as the
distinction between writings and non-writings. This observed difference
in the impact of features indicates that visitors' selection is
not merely driven by superficial perceptual attributes but also by
features that are indicative of content (i.e., authenticity). Finally,
after approaching and identifying an exhibit, for example, by
reading the label, perceived familiarity and prominence affect the
decision to scrutinize an exhibit more deeply.
Only for those exhibits that had passed through the whole
process from being noticed and approached to being scrutinized
and elaborated were visitors inclined to make the effort to access
further information about the particular exhibit. Yet, because these
exhibits passed through all stages of our tentative model, they
necessarily reflected the influence of the various factors, including
position, visible characteristics, and prominence of the exhibits. In
other cases, the whole sequence was not finished; instead, the
visitors terminated the process at intermediate stages. This was
evident in Study 1 when users of the digital guide M3 only used it in
approximately one half of the stops in front of a showcase, indicating
that they made a particular selection but did not consult M3
for further information about a particular exhibit.