Purpose of the Study

The Maze experience developed by the KDL for the Museum comprises of high-end technology, appealing content and an ambience that is close to the real time. These factors contribute to create the real wartime experience for the user. The ultimate goal of creating such an experience is to engage the learner in the content. For creating an engaging learning environment KDL relies on multimedia technology like 3D movies, animations, graphics, sound effects.
Three stories are conceptualized and will be featured in the maze as its opening deal in early 2009, they deal with the heritage and sacrifice of real people in unreal times. The smell of acrid smoke from bombed-out buildings will waft through the air; searing images will be used at every corner, rubbles, machine-gun fire rattles and many such lively experiences will fill the Maze room. While the Maze experience attempts to use the best that it promises, it becomes crucial to test the system with the actual users. It becomes important to know whether the design works with the users that it is meant for. Usability testing is the field of study, which deals with the testing of the product with the actual users. Usability testing requires a researcher to drill in the most crucial aspects of the design and find how the effects of the system on the users. The purpose of this research study is to test the usability of the Maze experience in the Calgary Military Museum. The results of the research will also help the museum experience evolve, ultimately leading it to its orignal goal of engaging the users in the content.