Interactive Installations Analysis - Interaction Design of a Sensory Garden Event -

Interactive Mixed Reality installations combine multimedia with novel multi- modal interaction techniques. As an example of mixed reality environments the "Sensoric Garden" - seven installations shown during a festival in Bremen - are described. As this kind of event cannot be evaluated in terms of usability or effectiveness, we need other categories to assess the attractiveness or "joy of use" of installations. Categories from the discourse on interaction design and interactivity were found helpful for a design reflection into why some installations were an "interactive success" and others failed to meet expectations and received little visitor attention. Copyright © 2002 IFAC