That's exciting! You're right, there are a lot of options. I know one solution that's free is Action Network. They offer a free kiosk mode for petitions and event sign-ins, activated by adding "?kiosk=true" to any page or embed link. I can see that being ideal for high-volume gallery use without custom development.
For political needs, Democracy.io provides a simple web tool for visitors to enter their address and send customized messages to U.S. representatives, embeddable in a browser-based kiosk. You can pair these with Apple's built-in Guided Access (under Settings > Accessibility) to lock the iPad to a single Safari tab or app, ensuring visitors stay on-task.
Something to keep in mind, whichever way you lean. Be sure to test offline functionality for gallery reliability. I'm sure you know how spotty WiFi can be. Paid tools like WaiverFile work without internet. Leverage your museum marketing team (or your own background) to track engagement via form submissions, integrating with tools like a CRM (we like HubSpot FWIW) if scaling. Steer clear of complex MDMs unless managing fleets, prioritizing simple Guided Access for one-off exhibits.
P.S. I'm just down the road (south of Kalamazoo) from you Melissa. I should come visit!
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Dan Moyle
Solutions Consultant
Digital Reach Online Solutions
(he/him/his)
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-05-2025 10:02 AM
From: Melissa Westlake
Subject: In-gallery advocacy element
Hello all! We're creating an exhibit about microplastics, and are exploring the possibility of having an iPad in the gallery where people can take action by either signing petitions, contacting their representatives, or both.
We have the hardware, but I'm not sure what the best path is for the software--has anyone done something similar and have suggestions? I see that there are some paid services that might provide what we're looking for, but I've never done anything like this and am hoping to learn from others' experiences. Anything to look for or avoid? Sites that already exist that we could use as is, or services that would allow us to easily make our own experience?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Melissa Westlake
Assistant Director for Exhibits
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Ann Arbor MI
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