Visitors' smartphones can be a great platform for gallery interpretation. This "bring your own device" approach can be relatively cheap, and it allows people to use familiar technology, rather than learning to use a new device.
While there are many ways to deploy digital interpretation to mobile devices, it is easy for the smartphone to become little more than a content conduit. As most galleries are information-rich spaces, who is the audience for this additional content?
Another approach is to think of the smartphone as a platform for creating personalised experiences. Mobile phones are intimate pieces of technology that help us navigate the world. Can we help visitors shape their individual or shared experience of the museum in a way that provides deeper engagement than the holiday snapshot or social media post?
We're also working on a new audioguide that chops the museum's eclectic galleries into a more playful and story-led pick-and-mix experience.
We don't know whether either approach will prove successful. But building experiments based on the variety of needs and expectations visitors bring to our museums will certainly yield useful insights.
While there are many ways to deploy digital interpretation to mobile devices, it is easy for the smartphone to become little more than a content conduit. As most galleries are information-rich spaces, who is the audience for this additional content?
Another approach is to think of the smartphone as a platform for creating personalised experiences. Mobile phones are intimate pieces of technology that help us navigate the world. Can we help visitors shape their individual or shared experience of the museum in a way that provides deeper engagement than the holiday snapshot or social media post?
At Brighton Museum, we're experimenting with providing more personalised engagement. We've recently helped digital artists Blast Theory to test a gift app that enables visitors to create and share a mixtape of their visit.
We're also working on a new audioguide that chops the museum's eclectic galleries into a more playful and story-led pick-and-mix experience.
We don't know whether either approach will prove successful. But building experiments based on the variety of needs and expectations visitors bring to our museums will certainly yield useful insights.
Kevin Bacon is the digital manager for Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
