Museum Technologies

Catalog description

Information technologies prompt museums to rethink the ways in which they manage and exhibit their collections. Just as corporations, agencies, and universities reinvent operations in response to technological innovation, museums must meet these challenges in creative manners. The profusion of sophisticated museum websites and breathtaking “virtual exhibitions” contrasts sharply with growing discontent among professionals over lacking information standards, insufficient data storage systems, and widely differing policies regarding collection accessibility. Do “virtual exhibits” increase visitorship or will they substitute museum visits one day? This course explores the institutional impact of technology by charting the practical application of knowledge in various areas of the museum. Guest lectures and site visits facilitate assessment of traditional methods and innovative tools in the museum.