Smithsonian Mobile strategic planning update, September 2010: includes relevant research from other institutions and examples of mobile programs in art museums around the world.
7. Many will go away hungry, feeling uninvited and unwelcome. Beth Lipman, Bancketje (Banquet) 2003 4
8. Tate Modern’sPrinciples of Interpretation Interpretation is at the heart of the gallery’s mission. Works of art do not have self-evident meanings. Works of art have a capacity for multiple readings; interpretation should make visitors aware of the subjectivity of any interpretive text. Interpretation embraces a willingness to experiment with new ideas. We recognise the validity of diverse audience responses to works of art. Interpretation should incorporate a wide spectrum of voices and opinions from inside and outside the institution. Visitors are encouraged to link unfamiliar artworks with their everyday experience.
13. The Nation’s growing diversity challenges us to reach new audiences ensure that the Smithsonian collections, exhibitions, and outreach programs speak to all Americans. We also must remain relevant to visitors who come from around the world. To accomplish this, we will leverage the power of technology using new media and social networking tools to deliver information in customized ways to bring our resources to those who cannot visit in person.
26. Niche communities of interest and passion for SI’s collections and researchMobile gives us new tools for scholarship, research, outreach and staying relevant to our constituents Mobile challenges us to ‘think differently’ about how we do business in a new learning & communications economy
27. Concerns Cellphone use will disrupt the galleries and encourage people to talk on their phones. Visitors will take pictures of the art with their phones. Interpretation distracts visitors from actually looking at the work, making it a superficial experience. Not everyone has a cellphone or smartphone. Signage and guards reinforce gallery etiquette. They already do, but signage and guards protect SI. Depends entirely on content design. True, so multiple interpretation platforms are necessary.
29. Mobile Improved Visitors’ Experience 2010 Mobile Tour evaluation…. (Top box %) Very easy to use… Very satisfied… Strongly recommend… Made visit much more enjoyable… Made artworks much more meaningful… Q. Guide Ratings Note: Percentages represent the highest rating FUSION RESEARCH + ANALYTICS
30. Those who chose the iPod and cell phone formats rated them more highly than traditional headset tour users rated theirs. (although the content was identical!) Randi Korn & Associates, SFMOMA, 2006
31. Phone logs enabled us to see patterns in where visitors wanted information most: (or perhaps where they or could find the labels!) Randi Korn & Associates, SFMOMA, 2006
32. In fact, GuideBy Cell now mashes up area codes and Google Maps to reveal where visitors are from:
33. Multimedia Tours Impact on Time Spent in the Galleries Q. How did the Mobile Tour impact the amount of time you spent in the museum today? FUSION RESEARCH + ANALYTICS study at SFMOMA Summer 2010
36. JacksonvilleZoo’s Research *Scale: 7 = strongly agree through 1 = strongly disagree. Source: Institute for Learning Innovation & the Jacksonville Zoo.
37. The more interpretation used, the greater the visitor satisfaction Randi Korn & Associates, SFMOMA, 2006
56. Design USA at Cooper-Hewitt “Don’t even think about not using it because then you won’t truly see the show.” Roberta Smith, NY Times, 14 January 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/arts/design/15design.html http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Design+USA+iPod+Touch+tour
70. Mobile sign language guides in development at SAAM (already online at http://americanart.si.edu/education/asl/)Important research by Laboratory for Visual Learning, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics finds efficacy of iPads and eBook readers in helping learning disabled to read
86. The Mobile Strategic Planning: First principles The only certainty in the mobile landscape is change – so we need an adaptive, standards-based approach to our mobile strategy and solutions development Because of the rapid rate of mobile technology obsolescence, we will build for mobile audiences, not specific platforms and gadgets Because of our public mandate and responsibility, wherever possible SI Mobile will make its resources, best practices, and mobile products available for others to adapt and build upon
90. Interim reports at: http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Mobile+ResearchMobile Strategy informational conference with Forrester Research July 22 Mobile strategic planning workshops for SI staff July 22-23 & 30 September Mobile fair and museum meet-up Aug 4 Collective findings on mobile objectives and proposed offerings published at: http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Mobile
91. SI Mobile Strategic Planning: Top level findings OUR AUDIENCES WANT SI MOBILE TO: Be personal: available on the handheld devices they already know & are comfortable with Be integrated: into their usual way of experiencing the world, and into other supports and platforms they already use in SI visits Be social: help them connect with SI collections, the people who care for them and others who care about them OUR STAFF WANT SI MOBILE TO PROVIDE: Enhanced interpretation & information services Support for community building, dialog & outreach New tools for research & collaboration
92.
93. 30% have a phone that can run apps (higher than national average of 24%)
94.
95. What will SI Mobile look like? A Smithsonian Mobile Architecture and framework Standards Best practice documentation and training Infrastructure A Mobile Toolkit
Market Currently in the US, 25% of cell phone users have a smartphone. By the end of 2011, 50% of cell phone users in the US will have a smartphone. By 2020, mobile devices will be the world’s primary connection tool to the Internet. 36% of recent NZP visitors have a smartphone!! 1/5 would use phone to navigate around the zoo and help plan their visit. 25% of adult smartphone owners are active app users, 13% of whom have paid for an app.Mission Many other zoos and museums are publishing apps: 11 zoos and aquariums with apps; 2 are paid (Woodland, Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Aquarium of Pacific, Florida Aquarium) Feedback and download numbers are positive. - Call the Wild Supports one of SI’s Five Institutional Priorities; the priority to Broaden Access, defined as “Purpose the latest tools and technology to exponentially broaden the world’s access to Smithsonian resources and improve the visitor experience for those who come in person.”
And many more learning opportunities in the pipeline
So this is a thumbnail sketch of what I think SI Mobile might look like: not just one big umbrella app, but a set of tools and resources…