Drawing Attention: A Field Study of Sketch-Based Penguin Identification for Aquarium Visitor Engagement

Drawing Attention: A Field Study of Sketch-Based Penguin Identification for Aquarium Visitor Engagement Yuki Nakagawa, Meiji University Satoshi Nakamura, Meiji University

Background Leisure Zoos & Education Aquariums Research Conservation We aim to support better observation experiences in aquariums through individual identification. 2

Background • Previous work suggests that identifying individual animals increases empathy and conservation awareness. [Smith+ 2024] • Visitors tend to observe the group as a whole, with limited attention to individual characteristics and behaviors. Smith, P., Mann, J. and Marsh, A.: Empathy for wildlife: The importance of the individual, Ambio, Vol. 53, No. 9, pp. 1269–1280 (2024). 3

Survey of Penguin Exhibition Practices How do zoos and aquariums provide individual animal identification and RQ1：information today, and what challenges remain in improving visitor experiences? • Visited 25 zoos and aquariums exhibiting penguins (17 in Japan and 8 overseas), and investigated how penguins were presented in these exhibits. 4

Survey of Penguin Exhibition Practices • Most zoos and aquariums identified individuals using flipper bands. Name-tagged bands Color-coded bands 5

Survey of Penguin Exhibition Practices • Some zoos and aquariums displayed information about individual. Individual penguin list Penguin relationship diagram (SEA LIFE Sydney) （Kakegawa Kachouen） 6

Survey of Penguin Exhibition Practices Key Challenges Low visibility Shallow information Weak individual linkage Limited visitor agency Flipper bands are hard to see. Information is mostly at the species level, with little detail on individuals. It is difficult to link a penguin to its corresponding information. Static displays offer limited opportunities for interaction. 7

Method Drawing an abdominal pattern. × Retrieve the name from the drawing. 8

System Design Draw the penguin’s spot pattern. 9

System Design The system retrieves and ranks candidate penguins by similarity. 10

System Design Tap a penguin to view its profile information. 11

Catalog Album 12

Field Study RQ2： How does a sketch-based identification system influence visitor behaviors in a real-world aquarium setting? • We conducted a six-day field study at Sunshine Aquarium (Tokyo). 13

Findings • During the six-day deployment, 167 visitor groups (270 individuals) used the system. Collaborative observation and conversation Ah, Potato! So cute. Shared device This one has many spots ! Those two penguins are a pair! Multiple devices 14

Findings • The system appeared to increase dwell time at the exhibit, with visitors becoming deeply engaged in drawing. • Access to individual penguin profiles helped visitors feel closer to specific penguins. This penguin has a similar birthday to mine. Formed personal connection 15

Findings • Most drawings focused on abdominal spot patterns as intended. • Some visitors added observed characteristics outside the abdomen. BOSS Typical drawing Creative use 16

Takeaways Drawing shifts observation from groups to individuals. Sketch-based identification promotes active engagement and conversation. Access to detailed individual information helps visitors form personal connections with animals. 17

Limitations & Future work • Conduct quantitative analysis using detailed log data to better understand visitor behavior. • Address possible self-selection bias by evaluating the system with more diverse visitor groups. • Extend the study through longer-term deployments across multiple facilities to improve generalizability. 18

Thank you for listening. I’m currently looking for study abroad opportunities. I’m also interested in conducting similar studies in international settings. If you have any suggestions, I’d really appreciate it. Scan to read Paper Contact : Yuki Nakagawa [email protected]