Mobilising MOSI: Revolution Manchester iMu tours European EMu Users Group Meeting Beamish 22 April 2010

Outline Background External frame of reference Building on internal experience Revolution Manchester Gallery Key objectives and interpretive approach Solutions: web-based Solutions: mobile

External frame of reference ‘Yet, at the same time, it seems that museums may be losing their natural constituency to computers and video, shopping and formula entertainment. … Museums today are like trees in winter: their collections, like closed buds, all holding tight their secrets. They need to become like trees in summer, their collections flowering in the minds of each visitor.’ Julian Spaulding, The Poetic Museum (2002)

Parry's model of in-gallery digital interactivity From: Ross Parry and Andrew Sawyer, ''Space and the machine: adaptive museums, pervasive technology and the new gallery environment'', in Reshaping museum space: architecture, design, exhibitions, ed. by Suzanne MacLeod (Routledge: 2005) See also: Ross Parry, Recoding the Museum: Digital Heritage and the Technologies of Change (Routledge: 2007) 1 Outside (1950s-60s) 2 Selectively inside (1970s) 4 Discrete (1990s) 5 Integrated (now 3 Contained (1980s-90s) 6 Innate (emerging) ICT museum gallery online on-site

Building on internal experience EMu development EMu installed 2002 Online access Oral histories online Images online 2010 iMu tours Gallery developments Digital Summer Manchester Science Gallery Connecting Manchester Gallery mi-Guide and Revolution Manchester Gallery

Digital Summer 1998 The original Baby at the University of Manchester in The replica Baby on display in The replica Baby redisplayed in 2008.

Building on internal experience EMu development EMu installed 2002 Online access Oral histories online Images online 2010 iMu tours Gallery developments Digital Summer Manchester Science Gallery Connecting Manchester Gallery mi-Guide and Revolution Manchester Gallery

Manchester Science Gallery 2004 Four scientists represent 200 years of science in Manchester. Each has a multimedia-rich ‘holodeck’.

Building on internal experience EMu development EMu installed 2002 Online access Oral histories online Images online 2010 iMu tours Gallery developments Digital Summer Manchester Science Gallery Connecting Manchester Gallery mi-Guide and Revolution Manchester Gallery

Connecting Manchester Gallery 2007 ‘Societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication.’ Marshall McLuhan ( )

Revolution Manchester Gallery Key objectives: Orientation – overview of MOSI storyline and links to other galleries Signposting related industrial heritage sites in the NW Logistical ICT considerations: Ease of creating and editing – updating, adding, extending Software management Potential as model for use in other galleries

RMG interpretive philosophy Objects are a vehicle for conveying storylines. Dramatic interpretation to enhance key objects that lack visual punch. Multi-layered approach to tell the full story in its wider social context and also engage distinct audiences. Multi-sensory experiential/immersive environments – including interactive activities and demonstrations.

Revolution Manchester Gallery layout

Solutions: web-based Links to further info Link to catalogue info Home for each kiosk will be start page for relevant section Related buildings/ galleries Related content on MOSi website – e.g. gallery pages, iMu trails page, public programmes Downloads section – oral history clips and transcripts Industrial Powerhouse links

Links to Collections Online

Links to Oral Histories Online

Solutions: mobile Focus on solutions that involve delivering content to hardware that people typically carry – i.e. mobile phones and media players. How? For camera phones, use QR codes to provide access to URLs with relevant content. For media players (and mobile phones), iMu tours. For e-readers, pdf versions of trails.

Solutions: iMu tours Manchester Science Gallery Power Hall Electricity Gallery Collections Centre Power Hall Textiles Gallery Electricity Gallery The Making of Manchester Gallery Collections Centre Power Hall Textiles Gallery Liverpool & Manchester Railway Exhibition Collections Centre

Any questions or comments?