 iPods
are now being used as audio guides in Art Museums overseas. Apple
conducted an experiment with the Singapore Art Museum in 2002. They
replaced traditional methods of displaying information as wall text
with audio files loaded onto the iPod. Since then, other programs
have popped up.
Currently,
visitors to the Mori Museum in Tokyo, for example can use their
own iPods (or borrow one from the museum) to download a podcast
that corresponds to the current exhibition. The audioguide provides
details about the artwork, interviews with artists, and other information.
A
group at the Marymont Manhatten College, called Art Mobs, has completed
a project using iPods and mobile phones to encourage dialogues between
visitors in their student gallery. This allows the visitors to share
their comments with each other, curators and the artist.
In
my classes, students have created their own audio guides using an
iPod and a voice recorder during a visit to the local art museum.
Some
downsides to the use of iPods by classes in art galleries:
- Like any audioguide, the podcast may prevent vocal sharing of
comments and ideas among groups of students.
- The cost of audioguides in some museums is more expensive for
an entire class
than a human tour guide.
- Also, I have experienced overcrowding produced by audioguides
that lead all visitors to the same exhibit.
Some
of my colleagues in museum education are discussing this issue through
a listserv. You can check out the discussion at here
(search for 'podcast').
Additional Resources
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