Embrace Interactivity for Deeper Engagement with your Content – Entertainment
Embrace Interactivity for Deeper Engagement with your Content
From Business Development Manager for Entertainment, Shannon Owens
When it comes to capturing the attention of your audience and ensuring your content leaves a significant impression, there is only so far that traditional media can take us. Embracing the cutting-edge of technology could be the answer, but any major investment needs a strong justification to show how it aligns with, and enhances, existing storytelling methods. This deep dive into the positive impact of interactive experiences will provide the justification you need.
Experienced brands and advertisers will attest that an interactive, hands-on approach to presenting content increases the likelihood of your audience absorbing and retaining your message enormously, when compared with more passive techniques. This is one area in which technology can open the doors to a whole new world of immersive entertainment.
This method of ‘learning by doing’ was pioneered by American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey, who developed a theory of experiential learning, emphasising the importance of active engagement and real-life experiences in the learning process. This really shook up the educational establishment because it challenged the traditional approach of learning through lectures and memorisation, instead encouraging active engagement with the material and opportunities to experience it in a real-life context.
Dewey’s theories are directly applicable to the entertainment industry, where hands-on experiences can be leveraged to increase audience engagement and ensure the experience has a lasting impact. When applied to the use of touch-enabled spherical displays, this approach has the potential to transform the world of entertainment.
Research confirms that interactivity is the most efficient method for retaining knowledge and applying it to the real world. In a study by a team from US universities, four teaching methods were measured for effectiveness in conveying information. The results indicated that passive methods like lectures and demonstrations were the least effective, while interactive activities were most effective in creating memorable experiences. The findings are directly relevant to the way in which audiences consume and remember content for their own entertainment. By leveraging this knowledge, professionals in entertainment can create content experiences that leave a deep and lasting impression.
Touch-enabled spherical displays – with their intuitive presentation of data in three dimensional space, and the ability for users to get hands-on and interact with this content – align perfectly with the principles of experiential learning. These displays offer an interactive experience that brings subjects to life, increasing the likelihood of audiences engaging with the stories they’re told, and remembering them after the event. From three-dimensional stories and dynamic visualisations, to innovative branded content, interactive applications on touch-enabled spherical displays make consuming content a truly captivating and memorable experience.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Quizzes and interactive exercises can be integrated seamlessly into the display, enabling viewers to get actively involved and reinforce their understanding. This interactivity not only enhances customer engagement but also provides immediate feedback, enabling content creators and brands to tailor their messaging, refine their offerings, and create more personalised customer experiences.
With their 360 degree visibility, spherical screens have also been very successful in facilitating collaborative environments that are the setting for many hands-on interactions. This is supported by the high degree of social balance afforded by spherical displays, the positive impacts of which were confirmed by a field study conducted by a team from the University of Florida. By encouraging group discussions and problem-solving activities, touch-enabled spherical displays foster meaningful interactions, allowing audiences to dive deeper into the content and take on an active role in the storytelling experience.
The immersive nature of touch-enabled spherical displays also enhances the overall entertainment experience and encourages a hands-on, tactile approach. When viewers are fully immersed in an interactive environment, multiple senses are stimulated, engaging various parts of the brain to facilitate deeper understanding. Audiences are then more likely to absorb information, make connections and retain knowledge, creating a memorable experience worth revisiting.
As leaders in spherical display technology, we at Pufferfish understand the power of touch-enabled spherical displays to create immersive and engaging entertainment experiences that maximise the benefits of interactive storytelling. By providing an intuitive and immersive platform for active engagement, touch-enabled spherical displays enable audiences to explore, interact, and collaborate in ways that were not previously possible. Content creators and brands can embrace John Dewey’s theory of experiential learning along with the potential of spherical displays, to supercharge the storytelling process and create experiences that stay long in the memory.