MarsCAPE: Mars Communicated Through an Augmented, Physical Environment

In the last decade, vast amounts of planetary science data have been made available publicly often focused on Mars. Such data is typically disseminated via the web and made available through screen-based visualizations. However, this approach can make it difficult to convey the broader context of a feature of interest or the spatial arrangement of surface phenomena. To better support learning and engagement, we present and evaluate MarsCAPE: Mars Communicated through an Augmented, Physical Environment. MarsCAPE consists of physical models of the surface of Mars, augmented by projected information and visualizations. To assess its learning and engagement value, a structured workshop and formal evaluation were conducted. Participants reported a significant increase in knowledge, found the models engaging, and exhibited natural learning without prompting. Systems such as MarsCAPE have the potential to provide an interesting, educational way for the public to access planetary data that goes beyond the capabilities of on-screen visualizations.