Open Forum

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

If you need a full-service solution, consider speaking to StQry, www.stqry.com. I suggest starting with StQry because they have a variety of solutions from very simple to very complex. As a DIY solution, using a Powerpoint type app is an interesting idea. Typically I would recommend HTML. An HTML "website" can be stored locally on the device so an internet connection is not required. There are a variety of relatively inexpensive, templated page builders out there. You could even build using an online service like WordPress or Wix or SquareSpace, and then download the site and copy to local storage on the devices.

There is a bit of a learning curve to working something like this out, but if you have anyone around with basic web/html skills, the technology is relatively simple. You can find instructions online for locking a tablet to a single application (the HTML browser). If the devices don't have an internet connection, there's not much of a "security" risk.

I'm always happy to speak directly about any media technology solutions.

------------------------------
Tod Hopkins
Technical Director
Hillmann & Carr Inc.
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Hi Kaitlynn,
I have found that the most affordable and effective way to do this is to create an 'Interactive PDF' in Adobe InDesign. For this you will need a touch-screen tablet (you can use a mouse instead but that can be a hassle in an exhibit environment) and Adobe Acrobat Pro to view and use the PDF. Do not use Acrobat Reader, it will not function properly. This will take some time on your end though, because you will need to create the home page and all the buttons and text that go on it and then you will need to create all of the pages that the home page buttons will take you to, as well as any sub-buttons and sub-pages that you might want to go to from the secondary pages. But you do not need an internet connection to use this, and you can put whatever photos and info you want on each page. Another perk is that you can easily edit any pages and re-load the PDF whenever it is needed. You can probably find tutorials on YouTube if needed.
Hope this helps!

------------------------------
Ethan I. Brennan
Facilities Supervisor
International Spy Museum
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2021 09:34 AM
From: Tod Hopkins
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

If you need a full-service solution, consider speaking to StQry, www.stqry.com. I suggest starting with StQry because they have a variety of solutions from very simple to very complex. As a DIY solution, using a Powerpoint type app is an interesting idea. Typically I would recommend HTML. An HTML "website" can be stored locally on the device so an internet connection is not required. There are a variety of relatively inexpensive, templated page builders out there. You could even build using an online service like WordPress or Wix or SquareSpace, and then download the site and copy to local storage on the devices.

There is a bit of a learning curve to working something like this out, but if you have anyone around with basic web/html skills, the technology is relatively simple. You can find instructions online for locking a tablet to a single application (the HTML browser). If the devices don't have an internet connection, there's not much of a "security" risk.

I'm always happy to speak directly about any media technology solutions.

------------------------------
Tod Hopkins
Technical Director
Hillmann & Carr Inc.
Washington DC

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Hi Kaitlynn,

This is a tangent, but may be useful in seeing what's out there and what some possibilities might include. In 2019, my institution, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, partnered with a French firm called Histovery to create interactive tablet-based VR based on the 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy. The firm's tablet is called a "HistoPad." Here are some links to more info. They also do buildings and landscapes.

Histovery.com

D-Day exhibition

Cheers,
Doug

------------------------------
Doug Lantry
Curator & Historian, Research Division
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
douglas.lantry.1@us.af.mil
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/20/2021 10:20:00 AM
From: Douglas Lantry
Subject: RE: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hi Kaitlynn,

This is a tangent, but may be useful in seeing what's out there and what some possibilities might include. In 2019, my institution, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, partnered with a French firm called Histovery to create interactive tablet-based VR based on the 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy. The firm's tablet is called a "HistoPad." Here are some links to more info. They also do buildings and landscapes.

Histovery.com

D-Day exhibition

Cheers,
Doug

------------------------------
Doug Lantry
Curator & Historian, Research Division
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
douglas.lantry.1@us.af.mil
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Considering using AR-augmented reality where they can scan a QR code (or have an app that picks up the points like in Pokemon Go) and have a different experiences. We are exploring this now for a geo-spaced exhibit.

------------------------------
Lisa Falk
Head of Community Engagement
Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona
falk@arizona.edu
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

I recently completed an interactive experience for an outdoor dinosaur museum that gamify the QR codes and AR interaction you describe. You can check it out here.
https://eddiecarbin.com/dinosaur-trek-jurupa-mountains-discovery-center/

------------------------------
eddie carbin
Creative Technologist
https://eddiecarbin.com/

------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2021 01:47 PM
From: Lisa Falk
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Considering using AR-augmented reality where they can scan a QR code (or have an app that picks up the points like in Pokemon Go) and have a different experiences. We are exploring this now for a geo-spaced exhibit.

------------------------------
Lisa Falk
Head of Community Engagement
Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona
falk@arizona.edu

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/17/2021 1:36:00 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

As indicated by the responses, there are a large variety of ways to implement these kinds of ideas. In my view, a lot depends on A. Grant size and B. Your (or your institution's) tech ability. 

If you have a large grant, going with something like StQry or another all-in-one solution will create a great result that usually stands up to the beating interactive components take. It also won't take a lot of tech knowledge on y'all's part.

If the grant's not big enough for that kind of solution, you can explore self-built avenues if you have the tech capacity for it. Several options have been tossed out here. Lisa's QR code suggestion is a simple one to implement, and since the pandemic, the public "gets" QR codes. Interactive PDF docs and offline HTML sites are also good solutions but require more tech ability on your part. 

To add another option, last year we built a virtual escape room using https://genial.ly/ and it worked pretty well. It's essentially an online hosted, interactive PPT (and there are offline options too). That's a direction you could take for a self-built solution.

------------------------------
Drew Whatley
Museum Educator
Whatcom Museum
Bellingham WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Hi, These are all great ideas. However, I encourage you to deeply evaluate the value of publicly loaning electronic devices. Today, handing someone a device is not a novel experience. Also, once you calculate the logistics and the level of facilitation required to support a tablet experience, you may quickly decide against the idea. In the end, you will be burdening your staff and visitor with another mobile device.

Design your best experience before making any hardware decisions. Once you land on an idea, focus group and test your design with your target audience before making any significant investment. For example, if the plan was to display content equivalent to the content of a Wikipedia page, you might find they become quickly disinterested in another screen-based activity.

------------------------------
eddie carbin
https://eddiecarbin.com/

------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Hi, Kaitlynn,

I agree with eddie carbin about really thinking about whether you want your visitors to interact with a device that they have to carry around in addition to the device that's probably already in their pockets, especially students. In looking at your website, I saw that Bonanzaville already has an app and several tours available--do you want to duplicate these or totally rework them?

Think about what your current school group tours offer and how they can be improved without modern technology. Consider what your educational goals are and how they work with North Dakota's state-mandated curricula: In today's environment, school administrators want programming that complements those curricula and meets states standards in order to approve class field trips. All of that can be done without using modern technology.

What I would think about is using technology inside the museum building but not in the Village. There is always more to tell visitors about objects on exhibit than there is space or time available; this is where technology can help.

For the pros and cons of using technology for the Village, I suggest that you contact Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, who is the executive director of James Monroe's Highland, located next to Monticello. They have developed a tour using augmented reality to tell the story of the site and of the enslaved people who labored and lived there.

As for ideas for how to use the Village more effectively with students, you (or the historical society itself ) might consider joining the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM). Once you're a member, you'll have access to a wealth of ALHFAM resources online as well as to ALHFAM's member-only discussion list, the ALHFAM-L. There will be many on the ALHFAM-L who will have ideas for you.

Good luck with your internship and with this project.

------------------------------
Martha Katz-Hyman
Independent Curator
Newport News, VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

I'm not sure if your funding is specifically for tablets or technology in general, but the Thomas Cole House has some really great interactive tech in a few of their rooms that are tied to movement sensors i.e you could walk up to his desk and it would trigger audio and a projection that played on a blank piece of paper. If you have a lot of supplementary information it might not be a good fit, but it was really nice to stay present and not rely on a separate device for information. It could be worth investigating--along with the rest of this thread; so many great ideas and examples.

------------------------------
Nicole McDonald
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------

Hello,

We worked with Potion Design to implement the sensor and reactive hardware at the Thomas Cole House.  Let me know if you'd like any more information on how that was installed and supported.

-Patrick Denny
Tanata Productions
917-720-2424

------------------------------
Patrick Denny
Media Specialist
American Museum of Natural History
New York NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-27-2021 01:48 PM
From: Nicole McDonald
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

I'm not sure if your funding is specifically for tablets or technology in general, but the Thomas Cole House has some really great interactive tech in a few of their rooms that are tied to movement sensors i.e you could walk up to his desk and it would trigger audio and a projection that played on a blank piece of paper. If you have a lot of supplementary information it might not be a good fit, but it was really nice to stay present and not rely on a separate device for information. It could be worth investigating--along with the rest of this thread; so many great ideas and examples.

------------------------------
Nicole McDonald

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2021 01:35 PM
From: Kaitlynn Anderson
Subject: Including Interactives on Tablets

Hello! I work at a museum that has a main museum with rotating and permanent exhibits, as well as a large pioneer village outside. I am currently in the process of revamping our school tour program, which will be the foundation for future projects on visitor engagement and community education. One thing that is lacking within not only school tours but the museum in general is interactives and technology. I received a grant to help fund the school tour program revitalization that would cover the costs of tablets. I am interested in providing items that the students can tap to see the history of specific items within the building, any cool facts, or any additional photographs we have of the building. The problem is that I am stuck on how to do this. I was thinking about using PowerPoint but I am not sure if will allow to have multiple things that can selected, and I have also considered the PastPerfect Online addition. Has anyone done something like this? I am looking for any guidance and advice that anyone is able to offer! Thank you!

------------------------------
Kaitlynn Anderson
Interning Curator
Cass County Historical Society-Bonanzaville
West Fargo ND
------------------------------