bbcon2013 Breakout Session: Mobile Technology & Your Museum
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I read two articles recently, and I had a vision of museums of the future. So, let’s put our collective orange vests on and hop in the Delorean: 88 MPH, here we come.
The first article talks about QR codes as art.
The next article has to do with Google Glass processing QR codes.
Now, imagine the guy above, walking around that art installation. Those QR codes then become more than static squares; Google Glass could display virtual art pieces. Perhaps the QR codes take the visitor to a video on the artist or links to other media. Guess what. That straight-faced, borg looking fellow is going to be in your museum in the next 12 months. That future is really right now or at least in the very near future.
He doesn’t look impressed, does he? But you can change that for next to nothing, since generating QR codes is free. So, you can start small by generating a QR code that takes the visitor to the Wikipedia article about the piece or artist. Place the code near the piece description. This is the least interactive option. Now let’s talk about more interactive options.
At the 2013 Texas Association of Museums conference (shout-out to the TAM crew!), I met Joseph Pagano, the CEO of Immediatag. Immediatag creates content pages for museum exhibits that visitors access via a QR code. Their solution is ideal for organizations like historical sites and gardens, where the org may not have enough volunteers, tour guides and docents to cover all the exhibits. Visitors can still get an interactive tour and they get it at their own pace. I believe the adoption of this technology has been slow because it requires someone having a smart phone, the application to read QR codes and the knowledge of what they are supposed to do with the code. With Google Glasses and other wearable computers, you are taking 2 of those 3 variables off the table. The 3rd variable also becomes less of a roadblock, as anyone who has a wearable computer knows what a QR code is and what they are supposed to do with them.
So many cool things can be done with this technology:
The possibilities are endless and intriguing. And if you can’t tell, I’m very excited for the future that is about to be upon us. Join me at BBCON 2013 and we will discuss this and other mobile technologies and how to incorporate them into your museum.
The first article talks about QR codes as art.
The next article has to do with Google Glass processing QR codes.
Now, imagine the guy above, walking around that art installation. Those QR codes then become more than static squares; Google Glass could display virtual art pieces. Perhaps the QR codes take the visitor to a video on the artist or links to other media. Guess what. That straight-faced, borg looking fellow is going to be in your museum in the next 12 months. That future is really right now or at least in the very near future.
He doesn’t look impressed, does he? But you can change that for next to nothing, since generating QR codes is free. So, you can start small by generating a QR code that takes the visitor to the Wikipedia article about the piece or artist. Place the code near the piece description. This is the least interactive option. Now let’s talk about more interactive options.
At the 2013 Texas Association of Museums conference (shout-out to the TAM crew!), I met Joseph Pagano, the CEO of Immediatag. Immediatag creates content pages for museum exhibits that visitors access via a QR code. Their solution is ideal for organizations like historical sites and gardens, where the org may not have enough volunteers, tour guides and docents to cover all the exhibits. Visitors can still get an interactive tour and they get it at their own pace. I believe the adoption of this technology has been slow because it requires someone having a smart phone, the application to read QR codes and the knowledge of what they are supposed to do with the code. With Google Glasses and other wearable computers, you are taking 2 of those 3 variables off the table. The 3rd variable also becomes less of a roadblock, as anyone who has a wearable computer knows what a QR code is and what they are supposed to do with them.
So many cool things can be done with this technology:
- For a botanical garden, the QR code could direct a visitor to your gift shop, where the beautiful flowers they are viewing are for sale.
- Civil War museums could use QR codes to direct the visitor to video of the last reenactment that took place on the battlefield they are viewing.
- History museums could have virtual translators anytime they are needed. There by insuring foreign visitors get the most out of your exhibits without the language barrier.
- Art museums could direct patrons to their website where they can purchase tickets to dinner with the artist or upcoming classes on the art style
- Children’s museums could display other museum activities that the viewer may enjoy
The possibilities are endless and intriguing. And if you can’t tell, I’m very excited for the future that is about to be upon us. Join me at BBCON 2013 and we will discuss this and other mobile technologies and how to incorporate them into your museum.
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09/10/2013 10:37am EDT
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