Multimedia at the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery MU301 Koré MasonNovember 2003

Agenda Web Presence Multimedia in the Museum Personalized Tours Discussion Topics

Web Presence Part 1 Virtual VisitOnline Catalogue

Multimedia in the Museum Multimedia Enhanced Exhibits A Mesozoic Scene – Jungle audio track creates ambiance. The Birdlip Grave Group – Audio explanation of Birdlip Grave artefacts. The Birdlip Grave Group – Reconstructed head, identified as that of the central figure of the Birdlip grave. Sculpted by Lynne O’Dowd, using a 3d laser scan of the scull unearthed at the site.

Multimedia in the Museum Interactive Games/Quizzes A Slice Through Time (Roman to Victorian) – Interactive game, users select ‘slices’ of earth to fill in a trench. Gives an insight into the layers of history underneath modern day Gloucester (batch file). Gloucester Folk Museum Quiz – Quiz questions based on exhibits within the Folk Museum. Reinforces exhibit specific information (batch file). Tour Back in Time – Tour shows images of Gloucester City Museum in ten year stages going back to the 1940s (Power Point). Gloucester Steeples and Towers – Interactive image, users click on steeples and towers within to view associated artwork including author and date (Power Point).

Personalized Tours Hewlett-Packard iPAQ 5440 Pocket PC MemPlug Dual-Slot Expansion Pack £35 Socket CompactFlash Card integrated with Welch Allyn's SCANTEAM™ 6180 bar code scanner wand £339

Benefits Museum Fast effective targeting for future events. Monitors popularity of specific exhibits. Builds a database of visitors. Serves a wider audience (foreign speaking). Utilizes resources already available online. Visitor Relevant depth of information delivery. Access to further information on demand. Follow up information sent directly to account (students). Accessibility for foreign speaking visitors. Fun way to interact for kids.

Discussion Topics Discuss the benefits and pitfalls of having this type of personalized tour as opposed to interacting with a tour guide. Discuss whether personalization of information delivery would encourage more people to regularly visit the museum? (e.g new exhibits)