Using mobile technologies for multimedia tours in a traditional museum setting
Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training, AU Press, (2009)Abstract
Mobile technology can be used to deliver learner-centred experiences at
a museum without compromising its aesthetic appeal. This chapter presents a
study in which two Flash-based multimedia tours were developed for the
Hypertag Magus Guide system and trialled with twenty-five visitors to
the University of Birmingham’s Lapworth Museum of Geology. Trial participants
found the system fun and easy to use, though they requested headphones in
order to hear the audio more clearly. They provided several suggestions to
improve the tours including creating stronger links between the tour and the
museum’s objects and incorporating more interactive and competitive elements.
We found that a structured multimedia tour approach was appropriate for
visitors who can connect with the museum’s narratives, though more fl exibility
was required to meet the needs of other visitor types