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

传统上，印刷标签和信息面板一直是博物馆解释其展品和讲述其故事的主要手段。这种“标签”的正统观念在很大程度上要归功于文艺复兴时期标志性的视觉技术以及启蒙运动的分类系统--“博物馆”概念形成的历史时刻。因此，标签已经成为（并且仍然是）博物馆的一个决定性特征，并且在参观者的期望和策展实践中根深蒂固。虽然数字信息技术现在被广泛应用于博物馆和画廊，但标签和信息面板通常是印刷的，这可能是因为可用于任务的材料范围-通常是纸张，塑料，复合材料，油漆.不允许在没有太多努力和花费的情况下进行更新。2006年，莱斯特大学博物馆研究系获得HEROBC（HEFCE）资助，开发和测试用于展览的扁平、无线、可更新的原型数字标签--这些标签看起来像标签，但可以显示由策展人或参观者生成的“实时”内容，这些内容由新闻、最新研究或参观团体的性质或简单的时间触发。本课题的小规模中试研究考虑了前景（和挑战）的标签画廊，（和'live'）作为我们博物馆网站的内容（Parry、Ortiz-Williams和索耶，2007年）这项工作突出了一系列问题：- 参观者互动提出了一系列关于数字标牌使用的问题-策展人采取了不同的方法来使用数字标牌-稳定的WiFi连接是一个挑战-硬件（液晶显示屏）提出了一些困难-在实践中，与更广泛的IT系统集成将是重要的。- 博物馆工作人员越来越了解数字媒体-新的WiFi标准已经出现-补充技术（RFID）现在更加普遍-电子纸即将成为可行性的尖端-零售业对数字标牌越来越感兴趣。博物馆研究网络将作为一个起点，根据这些变化审查原来的研究，并确定进一步研究、发展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访问者的影响是什么？对展览设计及维修有何影响？对策展实践和作者有什么影响？对相关的信息技术系统有何影响？我们可以从其他行业，特别是零售业学到什么？直播！博物馆建立在这一初步工作的基础上-但具有更深的知识深度，更注意正在发生的重大技术进步，涉及更广泛的合作伙伴，在更广泛的画廊“现场”提供策展背景下，并对该行业的需求和游客的期望进行更谨慎和战略性的关注。

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.