Hyperlocal User-Generated Video Contributions on Public Displays

Abstract

Public displays are being increasingly used to entice citizen participation, yet their content often lacks the true voice of local inhabitants. This paper investigates the potential of allowing user-generated videos to be shown unto public displays. We thus evaluated a preliminary version of 'Story Maker', a cross-media platform that invited local inhabitants to contribute video snippets in reaction to a thematic calls to action. The uploaded videos were edited into a weekly story by a professional media moderator, and shown on three large displays located in different semi-public contexts. Our qualitative analysis of a five-week in-the-wild study translates into design considerations that focus on how user-generated content should emphasize a clear purpose, valorise an already existing community, follow immediately actionable expectations with few practical complications, and should be edited by people with local knowledge. We expect these considerations to be helpful towards future public applications of citizen-empowered content creation.