An overview of the ways in which technology is used in museums, including digital collections, interactive exhibits, and online programming. It also examines the ways in which technology is changing the museum experience for visitors and the impact of these changes on museums' missions and goals.
Digitization: The process of converting physical specimens or artifacts into digital formats.
Content Management Systems (CMS): Software applications for organizing and managing digital content, including metadata, images, and multimedia.
Collections Management Systems (CMS): Software applications for managing museum collections, including accessioning, cataloging, and inventorying.
Museum Informatics: Interdisciplinary field that combines information science, computer science, and museology to improve museum operations and visitor experiences.
Visitor Experience: The ways in which visitors engage with museum exhibits, including interactive displays, immersive environments, and interpretive label texts.
Web Accessibility: Ensuring that museum websites and online exhibits are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Data Analysis and Visualization: Techniques for analyzing and communicating data, including statistical analyses and data visualization tools.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality: Technologies that blend the physical and digital worlds to create immersive experiences for museum visitors.
Digital Storytelling: Techniques for engaging visitors through compelling narrative and multimedia experiences.
3D Printing and Scanning: Technologies for creating physical replicas of museum specimens and artifacts in three-dimensional space.
Virtual and Augmented Reality technology: This technology uses virtual images, sounds and other sensory inputs to create an immersive experience for visitors. Virtual and augmented reality technology can help museums bring exhibits to life, allowing visitors to explore otherwise inaccessible locations and events.
Mobile apps: Mobile apps provide visitors with additional information about museum exhibits, including digital versions of exhibits, interactive games, and location-based services.
Interactive displays: Interactive displays use touchscreens, sensors, and other technologies to engage visitors in hands-on learning experiences. These displays can include touch-screen tabletops, interactive projections and augmented reality exhibits.
Digital labels: A modern take on conventional museum labels, digital labels use electronic displays (such as tablets) to provide visitors with detailed information about artifacts, artworks, and other exhibits.
Multimedia exhibits: Multimedia exhibits use a variety of media, including video, audio, and interactive displays, to offer visitors a more immersive and informative experience.
Data visualization tools: Data visualization tools enable museums to turn large, complex datasets into visualizations, allowing visitors to better understand the museum collections, exhibitions and stories.
Social Media: Museums use social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram to reach a broader audience, foster engagement and share news, stories, and events.