User engagement for mid-air haptic interactions with digital signage

Interactive digital signage is increasingly deployed in urban environments, from airports and train stations, to cinemas and shopping malls, whilst their integration into public spaces introduces new possibilities in multimedia presentation. In this paper, we explore the impact of mid-air haptic feedback on user engagement during gesture-based interactions with digital posters. To that end, a user study with seventeen participants was undertaken with two independent variables: interactivity (high/low), and mid-air haptic cues (on/off), whilst user engagement and emotional affect was measured with respect to various metrics. In this first attempt to understand the significance of mid-air haptic interactions for digital signage, we found increased user engagement levels, comparable to, if not greater than those achieved by content gamification. In particular, our analysis suggests that mid-air haptic feedback significantly improved usability and aesthetic appeal in comparison to digital signage without haptic feedback. Similarly, a higher level of gamification was also found to boost user engagement and helped to offer more compelling experiences with digital signage.