Museum apps are ways of stirring up curiosity and inciting users to visit the presented exhibitions.
Their usability is increased if they have preset levels of content presentation according to the users’ thematic interests or prior knowledge of the field.
One example of a museum app is the one of the Museo Arqueologico Nacional in Madrid, which provides more than 350 presentations of the objects that can actually be admired inside the museum space. The application itself has also a desktop version to be used by whoever wants to have access to the same content on their computers and not on a mobile device. The information is provided for the general public, for the people with hearing impairment who have access to sign language information, and also for the visually impaired persons who can listen to the information.
The possibility to download and access the information via museum apps anytime and anywhere – free of charge, even when you’re not inside the museum – is a great way to promote culture and enhance its accessibility.
However, it should be noted that not all museums, not even all those large and very famous, provide such apps free of charge and/or with unlimited access.
Otherwise, museums can structure the information according to the interests of the target groups, directly on the website, as is the case for the Technisches Museum Wien, which recommends activities/ programmes for Teenagers & Adults, Kids & Family, School Groups. The accessibility-related information is presented under a different tab, easy to find.
A similar initiative comes from the British Museum, which has designed Object Trails that consider visitors’ age, interests, and available time in the museum. In this case, accessibility-related information is presented in the lower part of the website but remains easy to find.
Another example is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, where the information is structured for the various target groups, considering not only the age-based segmentation and the individual versus group visit, but also inclusion and diversity aspects, ensuring an approach focused on equal treatment.
When looking at the website of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the user will find a whole series of podcasts, videos with gallery talks available both in the Highlights section of the website but also under the different tabs: Modern and Contemporary Art, Performing Arts, Cinema and Society. To reach those for whom culture is not a priority or remains inaccessible for various reasons, the Centre Pompidou also relies on a network of social mediators.
Resources:
Check the application of the National Archeological Museum of Madrid
Visit the website of the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid
Visit the website of the Technical Museum of Wien
Check the option Object trails at the British Museum
Check the French version of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Check the English version of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Check the visiting options for Groups on the website of the Pompidou Centre