LIVE!Museum: visitor and institutional contexts for digital labelling and in-gallery connectivity

传统上，印刷标签和信息板一直是博物馆解释展品和讲述故事的主要手段。“贴标签”的正统观念在很大程度上要归功于文艺复兴时期的标志性视觉技术以及启蒙运动的分类系统--这是“博物馆”这个概念形成的历史性时刻。不允许在没有太多努力和费用的情况下进行更新。-博物馆工作人员对数字媒体的认识日益增强-新的WiFi标准出现-补充技术(RFID)现在更普遍-电子纸即将问世-零售业对数字标志的兴趣越来越大。LIVE！博物馆研究网络将根据这些变化回顾原始研究，并确定进一步研究、开发和知识交流的关键领域。这些可能包括：-现场数字内容和媒体对参观者有什么影响？-对展览设计和维护有什么影响？-对策展实践和作者有什么影响？-对相关的IT系统有什么影响？-我们可以从其他部门学到什么，特别是零售业？LIVE！博物馆建立在最初的工作基础上-但有更多的知识深度，更多地关注正在发生的重大技术进步，涉及更广泛的合作伙伴，在更广泛的策展背景下，在画廊内的现场提供，并对该部门的需要和参观者期望的更谨慎和战略的眼光。

Traditionally, printed labels and information panels have been the principal means by which museums have explained their exhibits and told their stories. This orthodoxy of 'labelling' owes much to the emblematic visual technologies of the Renaissance as well the classificatory systems of the Enlightenment - the historic moments when the idea of 'museum' was forged. The label, therefore, has become (and remains) a defining characteristic of the museum, and entrenched as much in visitor expectation as in curatorial practice.Although digital information technology is now widely used in museums and galleries, labels and information panels are generally printed, possibly because the range of available materials for the task - typically paper, plastic, composites, paint ... do not permit updating without much effort and expense. In 2006 the Department of Museum Studies, at the University of Leicester, received HEROBC (HEFCE) funding to develop and test flat, wireless, updateable, prototype digital labels for exhibitions - labels that looked like labels but could show 'live' content generated either by curators or visitors, triggered either by news, latest research, or the nature of the visiting group, or simply the time of day. This original small-scale pilot research considered the prospect (and the challenge) of a gallery of labels that were as adaptable (and 'live') as the content of our museum websites (Parry, Ortiz-Williams and Sawyer, 2007).This work highlighted a range of issues:- visitor interactions raised a range of questions about the use of digital signage- curators took different approaches to using digital signage- stable WiFi connectivity was challenging- the hardware (LCD screens) presented some difficulties- in practices, integration with wider IT systems would be significantSince the original research, there have been many changes:- museum staff are increasingly aware of digital media- new WiFi standards have emerged- complementary technologies (RFID) are now more common- electronic paper is on the cusp of viability- the retail sector is showing increasing interest in digital signage.The LIVE!Museum research network will - as a starting point - review the original research in the light of these changes and identify key areas for further research, development and knowledge exchange. These might include:- what are the implications of live digital content and media for the visitor?- what are the implications for exhibition design and maintenance?- what are the implications for curatorial practice and authorship?- what are the implications for associated IT systems?- and what can we learn from other sectors, especially retail?LIVE!Museum builds upon this initial work - but with more intellectual depth, more mindful of the substantial technological advances taking place, involving a broader range of partners, within a wider curatorial context of in-gallery 'live' provision, and with a more circumspect and strategic eye on what the sector needs and what visitors expect.