Museums are vast, captivating spaces filled with countless artifacts and relics, some dating back thousands of years, all carefully curated for the public to explore. Many feature stunning exhibitions that bring history to life, making the past feel relevant and exciting for both the present and future. Yet, despite their appeal, many museums are missing out on the incredible potential of digital displays to truly revive history.
In recent years, digital technology has undergone transformative advancements, reshaping institutions like schools and workplaces. These innovations hold the same promise for museums. Traditionally, museums followed the mantra, “look but don’t touch.” However, museums of all sizes now have the opportunity to captivate audiences through interactive exhibits. Embracing digital tools like touch screen monitors can offer visitors a more engaging and immersive, hands-on experience.
Visitors can now take control of their own learning and exploration, no longer relying solely on a tour guide to lead them. Interactive touch displays make this possible, offering a more personalized experience where individuals can engage directly with the exhibits that interest them most. These interactive kiosks provide a dynamic blend of sound, images, maps, and stories, bringing exhibits to life and creating a more flexible and immersive experience for everyone.
Interactive displays allow for visitors to engage with exhibits in a way that doesn’t cause wear and tear to the artefacts. This is a great advantage as well as the fact that the artefacts don’t even need to be there they can actually be completely digitalised creating a virtual exhibit. This can be highly appealing due to rising insurance and transport costs making it difficult for even national museums to secure the exhibits they need.
When you’re simply viewing exhibits in a gallery or museum, it’s hard to imagine the exact context of the relic and its background. Digital displays can create the best impact imagined by creating a 3D virtual tour for visitors allowing them to be able see an object in relation to the place it came from and how it was used. A 3D virtual tour can allow navigation of the streets of ancient cities like Rome or Athens. Looking at ancient statues, vases, coins and weapons is more significant when you feel part of the world from which they came.
Digital displays allow children to learn at their own pace and experiment with what interests them. A good example of this is the Climate Change Wall at London’s Natural History Museum. The wall is one of the displays in the state-of-the-art Darwin Centre, which opened to the public in September 2009. A 12 metre wall, incorporating hundreds of images and graphics, allows students to see the devastating effects of human life on the natural world. Approaching the wall causes the display to change, and touching some of the panels can reveals more detailed information.
Museums are a vital part of culture in the UK and across the world. Digital displays, when used wisely, can keep the experience of visiting such a place exciting and fresh for the whole family.
