Online Collections

The GettyGuide kiosks have been translated to the Explore Art section of their website which allows visitors to access the collection in a digital format from home. Online visitors can browse by artist, type of art, or by theme or topic. There is also a Collection Overview that allows visitors to get in-depth information about the various Getty collections and a Video Gallery featuring videos about the museum's collection, techniques, conservation, and exhibitions, and includes many interviews with artists and curators. One of the most interesting features is their Getty Bookmarks. With this users can mark objects as they come across them on the website and later use the bookmarks to create a printable map of the physical museum indicating where all of the items are located. Essentially, users can create their own customized tour to bring with them to the museum. This is a great example of how remote access to collections can actually serve to increase in-person visits to a museum.

(click image to visit the Getty's website)

Podcasts + iPhones

The Brooklyn Museum has done an excellent job of utilizing Web 2.0 in several different ways, including free podcasts for their visitors. A podcast is a series of audio files distributed over the internet by syndicated download to portable media players and personal computers. Podcasts can be subscribed to or downloaded automatically when new content is added. The San Jose Museum of Art is one of the first museums in the world to use Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch to deliver interactive audio and video guides. Visitors are invited to use their own devices or borrow one free of charge from the museum for the duration of their visit. These devices serve a similar function as the GettyGuide kiosks but are wireless, portable, and more personal. Visitors can use the devices as they explore exhibits and augment their experience with commentary from artists as well as interviews with curators, gallery owners, and art insiders. Below is a video demonstration of the iPhone Tour:


Update: iPod Touch/iPhone Museum Tour from Chris Alexander on Vimeo.

Click here to preview the tour from your computer. Or, if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch point your browser to http://www.sjma.mobi/

A 2005 New York Times article describes how a group of college students “hack the gallery experience” by making their own podcasts to accompany exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art which can be downloaded from their website. The podcasts are subversive and sometimes irreverent, which official museum tours are very unlikely to be. Such podcasts can be a means of virtually sharing the physical museum experience with other visitors as well as allowing visitors to see the exhibit from perspectives apart from what the museum offers.

Please Turn Cell Phones ON

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis has developed a way to use cell phone-based interactive voice response (IVR) technology as an alternative to traditional audio tour systems. Anyone with a cell phone can access Art On Call for free at any time. Audio tour systems have been in use for many years, but Art On Call offers searchable lists and details about current and upcoming events, call transfers to staff and services, and pre-visit information including hours, directions, and ticketing. The material can also be accessed online with digital previews of the objects featured in the physical exhibit as well as in the form of podcasts. The ability for visitors to use their own cell phones also transfers the burden of maintenance to the user. The museum no longer has the responsibility of distributing and collecting devices. Studies show that some visitors are still hesitant to use this technology despite the fact that those who do have a more in-depth experience and tend to stay longer (Haley Goldman). The visitors who use their own phones have a greater feeling of ownership over their experience and are more likely to access content after their visit. Cell phone tours work in much the same way as blogs to break barriers and allow the user to feel more engaged.

(click image for more info)