Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach

Governments and national bodies are increasingly concerned with promoting outdoor activity as a means to benefit general health and wellbeing. Techniques to encourage and popularize engagement with the outdoor environment should therefore be welcome. This paper explores the use of a touch table as a...

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Main Authors: Anna Conniff, Kathryn Colley, Katherine N. Irvine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-10-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/118
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author Anna Conniff
Kathryn Colley
Katherine N. Irvine
author_facet Anna Conniff
Kathryn Colley
Katherine N. Irvine
author_sort Anna Conniff
collection DOAJ
description Governments and national bodies are increasingly concerned with promoting outdoor activity as a means to benefit general health and wellbeing. Techniques to encourage and popularize engagement with the outdoor environment should therefore be welcome. This paper explores the use of a touch table as a method to facilitate discussions about people’s engagement with rural and urban landscapes through recreational walking. We describe a study in north-east Scotland involving 22 participants who undertook walks of their choice using GPS smartphone applications to track their routes. Tracked routes were uploaded to a touch table and small group sessions explored spatial behavior in, and perceptions and knowledge of, local landscapes. Individual interviews 4–6 weeks later elicited reflections on the touch table session and personal engagement with the landscape. Two types of findings are reported: (i) observations and recommendations relating to the use of a touch table in combination with GPS applications; and (ii) knowledge exchange and insights afforded by group discussion and individual reflection. We conclude that our approach is a promising participatory method through which to investigate spatial behavior and promote recreational opportunities in the landscape.
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spelling doaj.art-b6b6bfc002c24570abd8c565aa126ab82022-12-21T19:00:43ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602017-10-016411810.3390/socsci6040118socsci6040118Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table ApproachAnna Conniff0Kathryn Colley1Katherine N. Irvine2Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UKSocial, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UKSocial, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UKGovernments and national bodies are increasingly concerned with promoting outdoor activity as a means to benefit general health and wellbeing. Techniques to encourage and popularize engagement with the outdoor environment should therefore be welcome. This paper explores the use of a touch table as a method to facilitate discussions about people’s engagement with rural and urban landscapes through recreational walking. We describe a study in north-east Scotland involving 22 participants who undertook walks of their choice using GPS smartphone applications to track their routes. Tracked routes were uploaded to a touch table and small group sessions explored spatial behavior in, and perceptions and knowledge of, local landscapes. Individual interviews 4–6 weeks later elicited reflections on the touch table session and personal engagement with the landscape. Two types of findings are reported: (i) observations and recommendations relating to the use of a touch table in combination with GPS applications; and (ii) knowledge exchange and insights afforded by group discussion and individual reflection. We conclude that our approach is a promising participatory method through which to investigate spatial behavior and promote recreational opportunities in the landscape.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/118walking routestouch tablelandscape engagement
spellingShingle Anna Conniff
Kathryn Colley
Katherine N. Irvine
Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
Social Sciences
walking routes
touch table
landscape engagement
title Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
title_full Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
title_fullStr Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
title_short Exploring Landscape Engagement through a Participatory Touch Table Approach
title_sort exploring landscape engagement through a participatory touch table approach
topic walking routes
touch table
landscape engagement
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/6/4/118
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