Although museums often give us a look into the past most recently they have begun to incorporate modern technology into their exhibits. With the help of smartphone application every individual can have a private guided tour of a museum at minimal cost. New York Times posted a great article on their website about the Museum of Natural History introducing a new interactive app to compliment their exhibit.
“An Extra Set Of Eyes At The Museum” by Joshua Bernstein talks about a free app called Beyond Planet Earth and an app that costs $3.99 called Maurizio Cattelan: “All,” at the Guggenheim Museum. The Beyond Planet Earth app for the Museum Of Natural History shows visitors 3D images of spacecrafts and solar systems. The Guggenheim Museum uses its app to give an audio history of artist Maurizio Cattelan.
To make these smartphone apps applicable in the museum a Wi-Fi system had to be installed. The Museum of Natural History spent $1 million on installing Wi-Fi in the museum in 2010. The Wi-Fi investment was not just for the use of smartphone applications, but a cornucopia of resources implemented throughout the museum. Touch screens, video games and scent simulators are among a few of the new innovated technologies at the museum. With the use of new technology visitors can not only see a 3D image of the moon but they can smell it as well. Technology is being used to educate and inform visitors in the most accurate and entertaining way.
Last year I had visited the Museum Of Natural History and was inclined to download all of the free applications advertised in pamphlets and signs all over the museum. With my iPhone I was able to point it at an image of a solar system and see the 3D floating image on my phone. I was able to walk through the dinosaur exhibits and get a detailed audio description of each pre-historic creature as well as a map to help me find my way through the exhibits. At some point I got thirsty and in my hand I opened the museum app and was directed to the nearest eatery in the museum. Going to the museum with a smartphone changed to whole experience. It made everything new again and exciting with hands on interaction with each exhibit.
These apps are also serving as a way for everyone to experience the museum without having to physically go there. The Guggenheim offers a virtual tour of the museum with histories of the artist along with detailed descriptions of each piece of art. They have even said that that 30 percent of the application users live outside the US. The small fee to have the Guggenheim in your hands is a major contributor to keeping museums alive and running. Although many museums do not have the budget to develop smartphone apps, it is a profitable investment. Nearly half of the museums involved with American Association of Museums are integrating smartphone apps.
When at the Museum Of Modern Art, I stood isolated and lost as my friends twiddled their thumbs away on their iphones. This was in 2010, when I did not have a smartphone. Well after this trip to the MoMA, I was persuaded to buy the iphone the very next morning. Let me tell you why. As a group of friends and I entered the MoMA, they all immediately downloaded the MoMA app, plugged in their headphones and moseyed around the museum with intrigue and focus. While I struggled behind them trying to keep with my paper map. I then had to wait behind a group of people at each exhibit to get close enough to squint at the tiny writing on each piece of art. The MoMA smartphone app is an audio tour of the museum individual designed for each user based on a quiz.
The MoMA website discusses what exactly is inside this app. The iphone app includes a calendar with current events that are easily shared on Facebook and Twitter. There are five audio tours, an information page, art index, and MoMA Snaps. MoMA Snaps allows you to take a photograph and save/ send it as a museum postcard.
Now all of these smartphones seem like a great way for visitors to connect to the museum and the exhibits and can be a profitable source of income for museums, but what about children. Should children be encouraged to think they need a smartphone to enjoy a museum. I know that I was influenced to get a smartphone after feeling like I needed it to enjoy the MoMA. There is a New York Times Article published a few weeks ago about children using smartphones to interact with museums. The article by Geraldine Fabrikant, “Engaging Children With The Siren Of The App”discusses the pros and cons of children being encouraged to use smart phones in museums.
Some museums like The Museum Of Natural History view technology as a great way to connect with children. They grow up using technology and it is a great way to get them involved with the museum. Other museums have a different idea about the use of technology.
Philadelphia Museum of Art believes that the museum is an opportunity for children and families to step away from technology. Emily Schreiner, associate curator of education for family and community learning said, “Adults are not always comfortable with their kids being on iPhones. What we want them to take away from the museum is an opportunity to slow down, look closely and spend time as a family."