MöbiusMöbius
  • Our story
  • Winners
    • Möbius Book Experience
      • News
      • Community
      • Contact Us

      Engaging users in the development of Möbius: How did readers evaluate the Möbius Player in pilot phase 2? 

      admin2023-05-03T13:35:37+02:00

      The Möbius Player is a mobile application that opens new possibilities to experience books in an immersive manner, engaging the readers through the combination of text, 3D-audio, and visualisations. Via the Player, readers gain access to digital books that expand upon the traditional ebook and audiobook format, leading to an immersive and unique experience. The Player aims to expand the current reading experience and therefore, compete with other growing media formats (i.e., gaming, streaming, music, etc.).  Between July – September 2022 a first prototype of the Player was tested as part of pilot phase 2, where users were randomly selected on the streets in Belgium, Spain, in combination with two living labs in Finland and Poland that organised controlled testing sessions with users. The participants navigated through the Player application and were asked to listen to the related 3D-audio track. Afterwards, the participants were asked to evaluate their experience via a brief survey. Overall, the Player reached over 200 participants.  

      The results of pilot phase two provide insights into the needs of users and provide guidance for the further development of the Möbius Book Player app. Below, we summarise the main findings. 

      Multimedia 

      Visualisation of a story in the Player app 

      One of the Player’s main features is the integration of visual elements (i.e., pictures and videos), allowing creators to visualise their stories. Therefore, users (readers) experience the story through the lens of the creator(s). Second, the visuals expand upon the traditional format (physical books and ebooks), breaking loose from the traditional reading experience. Users can decide to view the visuals by clicking on the highlighted icon in the figure above, which will currently redirect the user to the visual (in this example, a set of pictures). While testing the Player, users had the opportunity to provide feedback and share their opinion of the application, and this per feature available (i.e., UI, visuals, 3D-audio, etc.). The input we received presented the positive features of the application, whilst highlighting the current bottlenecks and points for improvement. 

      Participants evaluated the multimedia in the Player app as follows: 

      • Content: looking at our findings, we can see that users have a positive attitude towards the multimedia elements. The majority agreed that the added content contributes to the story. 
      • Control: the visual content does add value to the overall experience, but from our findings we can conclude that – how the content currently is displayed, doesn’t align with the user’s expectations. This refers to the redirection that occurs when users access the content. Looking at the figure, we see that users need to click on the highlighted icon, which will redirect to a separate page, and therefore, interrupt the readers’ experience. From the user’s feedback, it’s clear that the current system should be reconsidered. Meaning that users expect a continuous reading experience that doesn’t interrupt while consuming the added content.  

      3D audio 

      To make the Möbius a truly immersive experience, the graphical elements are supported by an exciting audio format, namely 3D-audio. 3D-audio tracks allow users to experience audio differently, where three tracks are available: the narrator, music, and sound effects (SFX). While testing the Player, users experienced the 3D-audio and shared their feedback. Just as the multimedia content, users gave valuable feedback regarding the 3D-audio and listening experience. 

      Participants evaluated the audio tracks as follows: 

      • Content: from the survey, we see that the users were rather neutral toward the 3D-audio integration and the feedback displayed different opportunities for improvement. First, the desire for more content variety, meaning implementing multiple audio tracks that users can switch between. For example, a variety of users did like the narration element, but didn’t enjoy the narrators’ voice, and therefore, integrating different audio-stems from different narrator could be the solution. This is also the case for the music and SFX, which some can become monotonous, so the option to alter these stems would be a solution. Still, we have to nuance some of the feedback, this because users only listened to a brief fragment of a story, but the goal of the Möbius books is to publish stories where the mood and setting follow the stories narrative, where also the SFX and music will change.  
      • Control: during the testing, users only had the option to play or mute the 3D-audio, meaning that there wasn’t the option to control the individual tracks (i.e., narrator, SFX, and music). From the feedback, it became clear that control over the individual tracks is a necessary feature that users expect. Users expect to be able to adjust the volume and/or mute the separate tracks. This problem can be solved by integrating audio mixer, which our technical team is working on.  

      Overall user experience 

      Besides the immersive features, users explored the first Player prototype, interacting with the different screens such as login page, personalization through recommendations, book library, etc. Keeping in mind that it’s the first prototype presented, the overall design was rather minimal, but still professional. Overall, Interface and user-experience were aspects on which much feedback was received. Below, we summarise the highlights: 

      • Readability: overall, the readability of the application was rather positive, but certain elements from traditional reading experiences (ebooks) were missing. For example, features such as the option to bookmark pages, take notes, highlight/underline, change font and size, etc. are features that users would like to see in future versions of the Player.  
      • Ease of use: due to its early stage of the application, users stressed the importance of more user-intuitiveness in terms of personalization of your account (i.e., genres, likes, dislikes, etc.), layout, workflow of the app, the lack of a social dimension, etc. Yet again, the early stage of the Player is the reason whereby these elements are currently lacking -or not available. 
      • Content flow: In line with the previous comment on redirection, improvements could be made both for the execution and the presentation of the additional content (e.g., in-text or overlay). 

      To wrap up this blogpost, we can say that users were overall excited about the idea of an immersive reading application that allows them to experience books in a new and unique manner. We received plenty of feedback that will help us develop an even better prototype of the Player, where the current lacunas will be addressed. Therefore, stay tuned for future blog posts and updates on the Möbius website and our socials!  


      Related Posts

      The Möbius project participates in a round table about the role of data in transforming the publishing sector in the Mobile World Congress 2023  

      Experts from the book and media industries gather on 28 February at Fira Gran Vía Barcelona  Data can drastically transform any... read more

      Crowd publishing

      Bookabook is the first Italian crowdfunding publisher: through crowd publishing - bringing together the potential of crowdfunding and the pursuit of... read more

      The Möbius interactive book experience arrives in the Fantastic Adventure Night of the Leipzig Book Fair 2023 

      Book readings, immersive installations, piano music, and more to discuss about the future of publishing on fantastic book writing in... read more

      Foto de AbsolutVision en Unsplash

      Innovations in the publishing sector

      Despite having a long history, publishing has constantly been on the cutting edge of innovation, with its key technology, the... read more

      The Möbius Mobile Immersive Book Box landed at the Fantastic Adventure Night of the Leipzig Book Fair 2023

      Giulio Ravizza read a piece of his novel 'La influenza del blu', Rupert Hubert played the piano, and the Möbius... read more

      Engaging users in the development of Möbius: How did users evaluate the Möbius Creator in pilot phase 2? 

      This post will discuss the results of the Creator. The Creator is a web application (browser based) that allows authors... read more

      The Möbius Consortium celebrated its first face-to-face meeting

      On the 1st of December 2021, the Möbius partners met physically at the Eurecat installations for the first time to discuss the progress of the project. The... read more

      Möbius speaks about immersive reading at the MediaFutures Demo Days 2023

      Readers are stimulated by images that push their sense of perception The European initiative MediaFutures celebrated its Final Event in the... read more

      Photo by ål nik on Unsplash

      The Möbius Project at the Mobile World Congress 2022!

      With the pandemic showing signs of receding, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year exceeded last year’s attendees and increased... read more

      The Next Generation Media projects join forces to showcase European innovation in the sector 

      Möbius participates in the IBC 2023  The Möbius Project has just participated in the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2023, held at... read more

      Tweets by mobius_europe
      🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applica 🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applications for the third time!⁠
Let’s recap on what these products are based on!⁠
⁠
🛠️ The Prosumers Intelligence Toolkit (PIT) is a data dashboard for publishers that presents insights by collecting knowledge and data from prosumer online fandom communities. It will be tested by a qualitative approach called ‘think aloud’.⁠
⁠
🤔 Are you thrilled to know where you can participate to these testing sessions?⁠
⁠
Stay tuned to see the several events where you can participate!⁠
⁠
      🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applica 🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applications for the third time!⁠
Let’s recap on what these products are based on!⁠
⁠
🖌️ The Creator is a web application that allows authors and amateur writers to transform their own stories into immersive experiences. During the piloting, the participants will be able to sign up to test the Creator and receive a survey to give their feedback.⁠
⁠
🤔 Are you thrilled to know where you can participate to these testing sessions?⁠
⁠
Stay tuned to see the several events where you can participate!⁠
⁠
      🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applica 🙌🏼 Hey! Möbius is testing its three applications for the third time!⁠
Let’s recap on what these products are based on!⁠
⁠
🖥️ The Möbius Player is an interactive, mobile application for readers to consume immersive books. The tests are of qualitative nature where participants are randomly selected on the street and events: broad audience, readers, 300 testers.⁠
⁠
🤔 Are you thrilled to know where you can participate to these testing sessions?⁠
⁠
Stay tuned to see the several events where you can participate!⁠
      🎨 ”The art challenges the technology, and the 🎨 ”The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art” - John Lasseter ⁠
⁠
🌀 The confluence between art and technology makes both disciplines advance. John Lasseter created the first 3D feature film from scratch improving the software and hardware as needed. That was the birth of Pixar’s Toy Story.⁠
⁠
💭 What other examples of technology and art coming together can you think of?⁠
      🤯 The Frankfurt book fair was astonishing.⁠
⁠
👥 Hundreds of people came together to exchange insights with consortium members, test out the Möbius Player's binaural audio technology, and interact with the Möbius totem. This technology creates a more life-like listening experience for audiobooks and will be a part of the Möbius book experience. With the Möbius app, users will be able to enjoy immersive reading with text+binaural audio and social interaction features. ⁠
⁠
🎇 Are you as thrilled as us to see the future of reading?⁠
      📱 eBooks solve many problems, here are some sta 📱 eBooks solve many problems, here are some stats of ’s cycle:⁠
⁠
- Of the $26 billion in revenue made last year, $22.6 billion came from print books, while only $2.04 billion came from eBooks.⁠
⁠
- eBooks sold 191 million units in 2020.⁠
⁠
⁠
📑 Zippia. "23 Gripping Book Industry Statistics [2023]: Facts About The US Book Industry" Zippia.com. Aug. 17, 2022, https://www.zippia.com/advice/us-book-industry-statistics⁠
      💬 At the Frankfurter Buchmesse we had a panel d 💬 At the Frankfurter Buchmesse we had a panel discussion about "Creative and Culture Industries: transform and innovate to enable new business opportunities" with STARTS Prize and MediaFutures!⁠
⁠
👀 The world of new technologies brings new insights and opportunities every day. Don’t miss our newsletters to stay up to date!⁠
      This year Möbius has participated in the Frankfur This year Möbius has participated in the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022.⁠
⁠
📚️ The Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important international trade fair for publishing and content. Experts from global publishing meet partners from the technology industry and related creative industries such as film and games. ⁠
⁠
📅 This year’s edition was dedicated to exchanging ideas and understanding through and beyond languages and culture. The world’s biggest book fair illuminates the topic of “t”anslation” “n all its richness. Ideas, themes, and texts must be translated again and again: into other languages, into other media, into different contexts, and new thinking.⁠
⁠
👉🏻 Learn more about Möbius presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair in our website.⁠
      🌟 Technology Works wonders!⁠ ⁠ 📖 In toda 🌟 Technology Works wonders!⁠
⁠
📖 In today's digital age, the works of Shakespeare are just at one click of a button. Imagine carrying around all of his works in your pocket, just like your favorite music on your phone. Technology has made it possible to preserve and share the classics, making them available to a new generation. ⁠
⁠
🌐 Join Mobius to discover how technology embraces the world of books and publishing.⁠
      ⏰THE MÖBIUS OPEN CALL IS CLOSING TOMORROW! 'Th ⏰THE MÖBIUS OPEN CALL IS CLOSING TOMORROW!

'The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented.' The Nobel Prize Dennis Gabor once said, which seemed to be visioning what the Möbius project aims to do: create the world of tomorrow with the values we dream today according to the New European Bauhaus.🚀

Are you thrilled to be part of it? Then, do not hesitate to participate in the Möbius Open Call! 
 
🥇1,500€ will be awarded for the best story 

 🥈🥉500€ will be awarded for each of the 2nd and 3rd places.  

 🎫The prizes will be delivered in kind 
 
 Eligibility conditions: 

 💡Unpublished work 

 📄Max. length of 6.000 characters (including spaces) 

 🌍Participants must be of legal age (>18) and EU-citizens (plus Norway and Iceland) 

 💬Languages: English, Italian and Spanish  

 🗓Deadline: TOMORROW!
 👉 Link in bio!
      The Möbius Open Call is about to close! Don't pro The Möbius Open Call is about to close! Don't procrastinate the submission of your manuscript because there are huge things that can come up!  

🥇1,500€ will be awarded for the best story 

 🥈🥉500€ will be awarded for each of the 2nd and 3rd places.  

 🎫The prizes will be delivered in kind 

Eligibility conditions: 

 💡Unpublished work 

 📄Max. length of 6.000 characters (including spaces) 

 🌍Participants must be of legal age (>18) and EU-citizens (plus Norway and Iceland) 

 💬Languages: English, Italian and Spanish 

 🗓Deadline: January 15th, 2022 

Stay connected! 

Link in bio!
      🟣APPLY TO THE MÖBIUS OPEN CALL! This is a 🟣APPLY TO THE MÖBIUS OPEN CALL! 

This is a call to all writers, whether professional or amateur🤩! We are looking for short original fantasy stories. The winning manuscript will become the 1st Möbius Book, a cross-media experience involving a 3D audio and virtual reality production and art installation! We want authors to imagine and build a beautiful and liveable future, the future we dream about. Participate now in the creation of the #MobiusBook!🔝 

 🥇1,500€ will be awarded for the best story 

 🥈🥉500€ will be awarded for each of the 2nd and 3rd places.  

 🎫The prizes will be delivered in kind 

Eligibility conditions: 

 💡Unpublished work 

 📄Max. length of 6.000 characters (including spaces) 

 🌍Participants must be of legal age (>18) and EU-citizens (plus Norway and Iceland) 

 💬Languages: English, Italian and Spanish 

 🗓Deadline: January 15th, 2022 

 Link in bio!
      🟣 Does this slogan ring a bell? “A book for t 🟣 Does this slogan ring a bell? “A book for the price of a pack of cigarettes” It was from Allen Lane, who started the @penguinrandomhouse

After spending a weekend with world-famous author Agatha Christie, Lane realized that there were no quality books available in train stations, only magazines and pulp fiction. To ensure the success of his business model, he had to sell at least 17,000 copies of each book he published, yet after just one year, three million copies of the first ten published books of the new house were sold! 📚
👉 Link in bio!
🖊Marjorie Grassler
      🟣Did you know that the five genres that are mos 🟣Did you know that the five genres that are most likely to generate bestsellers according to Nielsen Book Data are general and literary fiction; children's fiction, crime, thriller and adventure; young adult fiction and romance and sagas?

👉 Link in bio!
🖊Marjorie Grassler
      🟣 With the arrival of the internet and other te 🟣 With the arrival of the internet and other technologies, the publishing sector had to dig to its deeper roots to extract new formats to reach its audiences 📚. So many business models have emerged to tackle the digital disruption, adapting sometimes the old way of working to the online and interactive environment. The encyclopedia salesperson has not disappeared; they have only been uploaded to the cloud!

👉 Link in bio!
 🖊Marjorie Grassler

#mobiusbook #booklovers #bookstagram #techlover #cloud
      🟪Book publishing is the largest cultural indust 🟪Book publishing is the largest cultural industry in Europe🤩

💡Did you know that the total market value is €36-38 billion? (@europeancommission)

The majority of the world’s top publishing groups are European-owned: six to eight of the top 10 publishing groups, according to the annual Global Ranking of the Publishing Industry).” 🌍🚀

Source: Publishing Perspectives

#mobiusbook #booklovers #inspiration #publishing #culture #europe #h2020
      This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 957185.
      Möbius © Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved.
      Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

      Stay connected with the Möbius Project.