Cultural mediation involves creating a communicative space for dialogue between visitors, artists and cultural institutions. It aims to engage the public in cultural participation. Digital cultural mediation, on the other hand, is defined as a collection of digital technologies and computer support implemented on-site and off-site to achieve positive cultural mediation effects. Thus, digital cultural mediation can be said to support cultural mediation more broadly.
The development of information and communication technologies is a major challenge for cultural institutions. On-site digital mediation is increasingly valued and demanded by audiences, including people with special needs, such as those with various disabilities, but also the elderly and, above all, young people and children. The main goal of digital mediation is to create an emotional interaction between the audience and the cultural space. Visit is meant to be attractive and engaging. Passive observation of a work of art, even with the use of an audio guide, may not be very attractive in today’s modern times.
Therefore, the use of a variety of mobile applications (in addition to narration, they can include sound effects, music, interviews with experts, which extends their use by people with different disabilities), interactive screens, digital platforms, interactive holograms, QR codes or NFC technology activates the visitor’s perception. All this encourages action in the form of discovering, searching, comparing, feeling, engaging emotions.
Digital mediation devices can be divided into two types:
- Mobile tools that accompany visitors throughout their visit to the museum (web apps, NFC technology)
- Fixed installed tools such as touch tables, lighting devices, video projections
Digital mediation also includes a form of fun, such as games that animate the children’s visit, escapes games or virtual diaries. All these facilities make the visit engaging and memorable for a long time as an interesting learning experience.
Currently, one of the most popular modern digital devices is augmented reality (AR). AR makes it possible to restore missing heritage elements and make them visible in 3D. This makes it easier for visitors to understand the significance of physical monuments (buildings, historic objects, works of art), as well as aspects of intangible heritage (languages, ways of life, skills over the centuries, beliefs, traditions, daily and holiday customs). This unique audiovisual experience allows the visitor to dive deeply into the history and learn about the artwork in a multifaceted way. What’s more, state-of-the-art sound systems can be integrated with AR technology, so visitors achieve multisensory engagement.
An interesting solution is the use of video mapping. This is a modern technique involving the projection of light onto stationary objects to create an optical illusion, which activates visual sensory experience. Information kiosks, or interactive stations with information about exhibits, are highly regarded. These devices are most often enhanced with accessibility features for people with special needs. Of the other solutions that make a visit to a cultural institution more pleasant, we can mention interactive floors, which respond to visitors’ movements and touch. They can display images, photos, videos, animations, as well as simulations that change depending on user interaction.
The mentioned examples of digital mediation meet the needs of modern audiences, turning a visit to the museum into an interesting and inspiring educational experience.