The NewMediaLab of the Allard Pierson Museum

NewMediaLabHow international collaboration

facilitated digital experimentation

Merel van der Vaart

Digital Museum Expo 2014

V-MusT.net • meSch • Allard Pierson Museum

@MerelVaart

Introduction

Merel van der VaartPhD Candidate - meSch (2013-2017)

Amsterdam School for Heritage and Memory StudiesAllard Pierson MuseumUniversity of Amsterdam

Mediating the Museum: The impact of on-gallery technology on visitors' engagement with museum objects.

Introduction

Developing the NewMediaLab in four steps

Challenges

Results

Future

Introduction

Introduction

There is a lot we don’t know…about the use of technology in the museum.

The Allard Pierson Museum has integrated three labs into its core offerfor research and experimentation at the heart of the museum,feeding into the museum’s dynamic collections presentation.

Heritage Lab

Archeolab (ArcheoHotspot)

NewMediaLab – made possible by v-MusT.net

Introduction

Introduction: The NewMediaLab space

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 1

We were given installations to test as part of the project we were part of.

Etruscanning(2012-2013)

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 2

We moved out of the physical lab & talked to our visitors.

Museum Night(2013)

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 2

We moved out of the physical lab & tested beta versions on-gallery.

Eternal Egypt Experience(2013-2014)

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 2

Eternal Egypt Experience(2013-2014)

We moved out of the physical lab & tested beta versions on-gallery.

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 3

Developers worked in the museum, surrounded by our collections.

meSch Loupe prototype(2014)

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 4

We have requests & work with new partners when prototyping for our exhibitions.

Domus prototype(2013-2014)

Developing the NewMediaLab: Step 4

We have requests & work with new partners who want to use us as a test case.

Tomb Reader app(2014)

Challenges

The NewMediaLab is not longer a space, but not quite a department.

We have no in-house development.

Matching our research with exhibition development planning.

Aligning needs and expectations of various partners.

Finding suitable evaluation methods.

In-house advocacy.

Results

Understanding relationship between our exhibitions & technology.

Understanding relationship between our objects & technology.

Ongoing experimentation with object recognition software.

Ongoing experimentation with sensor-based software.

Sharing findings at conferences and a magazine.

Future challenges & plans

Long-term sustainability.

Better integration.

Larger network of ‘friends’ (especially within UvA & HvA).

More long-term focussed research.

Thank you.

The meSch project (2013-2017) receives funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ‘ICT for access to cultural resources’ (ICT Call 9: FP7-ICT-2011-9) under the Grant Agreement 600851. v-MusT.net (2011-2015) is a EU FP7-funded Network of Excellence (Grant Agreement 270404)

Merel van der Vaart

Digital Museum Expo 2014

V-MusT.net • meSch • Allard Pierson Museum

[email protected] • @MerelVaart