Museum Experience Research Articles

Immersive Empathy in Digital Music Listening: Ideas and Sustainable Paths for Developing Auditory Experiences in Museums

With the development of modern technologies, museums have been engaged in the competition for novel sensory resources. Taking into consideration the main body of visitors, their experiential representation has gradually become the focal point of the museums. However, at present, the museum display is limited to visual effect. The scientific and technological methods proposed by existing research have not really formed a deep cultural memory of historical stories, and the sustainable development paths of museums need to be further optimized. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the conception and path of museum auditory experience development, and to verify the existing patterns of empathy in museum auditory experience development. We set up digital music vocalization tools in the museum to temporarily create the immersion experience for digital music. In this scenario, we could meticulously observe the tourists’ experience, with the joint effect of active cognitive environment and environment-driven emotion. We also conducted a timely survey on the cognition, emotion, and experience of the observation subjects after the experiment. Last, empirical methods has been used to analyze the role of immersive empathy in enhancing visitors’ experience, in order to gain insights into visitors’ perception and cognition of the museum, integrating with the digital music. After analyzing the collected data, this study found that cognitive empathy has a significant positive impact on visitors’ experience. It indicated that for the historical stories presentation, the properly integration of museum and digital can help tourists deeply understand the historical events, which could restore the cultural connotation conveyed by the designer. Emotional empathy also has a significant positive impact on visitors’ experience. It showed that that the rendering of digital music will motivate visitors’ emotional fluctuation, during their visit to the museum. And through the combination of audio-visual effects, the constructed spatial perception, allowing visitors to enjoy immersive experience. This study proposed a vision for the development of auditory experiences in museums, based on both cognitively active immersion and emotionally passive immersion of visitors. We also suggested that in the new era, museums need to reform with voice, to timely adjust and innovate their way to exhibit cultural relics, with the hierarchical design of audiovisual integration to construct a more appealing scene and atmosphere.

Applications of augmented reality in museums, impact on cultural heritage

Introduction: the museum is a site that collects, exhibits, researches and classifies material objects that represent nature and human cultural heritage. They are one of the sources of knowledge about history and culture. To face the current digital revolution they have used technologies such as augmented reality. The objective was to characterize the application of augmented reality (AR) technology in museums. Methods: a total of 20 articles in Spanish and English were reviewed, from Science, Scielo and Dialnet; using as keywords: augmented reality, museum, museum exhibits, interactive exhibits, immersive technologies, being more than 50 % of the last five years. Results: the vast majority of museums as institutions try to find various methods to excite and involve their audiences. The technology behind AR improves visitor perception, as historical and cultural relics can be displayed through augmented reality and virtual compositions. The AR also ensures accessories and applications to improve the experience at the center, resulting in greater educational, historical and social impact. Conclusions: augmented reality technology in museums makes it possible to captivate diverse audiences, adapt to the personal interests of the visitor, remodel the design of exhibitions, the combination of art and technology, improve understanding and ensure positivity of the museum experience. This is guaranteed through mobile applications, accessories and websites.

경증 장애인과 가족 돌봄자의 효과적인 미술관 융합교육을 위한 뮤지엄 액티브 러닝 방법론 연구

This study presents the following objectives for the necessity of art museum activities necessary for the disabled and family caregivers. First, active art museum factors for people with mild disabilities and families are discovered. Second, we propose an active learning range centered on effectiveness and self-efficacy. Third, we find the Gap elements of art museum activity and present effective art museum service design. Fourth, we will build a museum active learning model that embraces both disabilities and non-disabilities. As a result of studying the special program of art museums centered on the last three years, Case-based learning is advantageous for the disabled, and family caregivers predict that Goal-based learning, Team-based learning, and Problem-based learning methods are effective. Disabled and family caregivers can try Flipped learning, Action learning, and Project-based learning together. The results of this study: First, there should be many cultural and artistic service programs by expanding public care for the developmentally disabled and the elderly with dementia. Second, m service design should help disabled people and their families with a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and social resilience. Third, art museum experience education services for the mildly disabled and their families should prioritize various activities, familiar living materials, and space accessibility

Binding the past with digital: Film curation at Batu Api Library

Background: Digital curation is a growing concept that involves the selection, organization, and presentation of digital information for specific purposes. In this study, digital curation manages Batu Api Library’s film collection using digital technology. This trend is critical to keeping cultural information relevant and accessible to the public. Purpose: This study intends to examine the curation of digital films at the Batu Api Library and how users react to and value the library’s digital film curation results. Methods: This study is based on qualitative research. Batu Api Library conducted this study for three months. Interviews and questionnaires are research methods. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected in two phases. The types of data require different treatment methods. Thematic analysis provides qualitative data, while descriptive statistics uses quantitative data. The methodology provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of technology on the curation of films and audience participation at Batu Api Library. Results: The study found overwhelmingly positive results for integrating digital technology into film curation at Batu Api Library. The experience engaged and educated many visitors and helped them understand historical and cultural differences. The youngest users were particularly engaged. Conclusion: The study found that digitizing film curation at Batu Api Library enhanced the visitor experience and historical insight. Responses, especially from younger participants, indicate that digital advances are beneficial. Implications: Digital film curation can enhance the museum experience and historical and cultural knowledge. Digital technology preserves and communicates cultural heritage in practical and theoretical ways.

Evaluating the Impact of XR on User Experience in the Tomato Industrial Museum “D. Nomikos”

This study presents the background and the evaluation of integrating eXtended Reality (XR) in the permanent exhibition at the Tomato Industrial Museum “D. Nomikos”. This paper firstly provides the context of this study by outlining the methodological, technological, and museological approaches undertaken to integrate XR in a quest to enhance visitors’ meaningful engagement with the industrial heritage-related exhibition. Storytelling and narration are key elements of the museum’s museological design through audio tours and interactive AR-based visualization n of the machinery’s role and function. This paper presents and discusses the design of the evaluation methodology employed in the context of pertinent methods and approaches used in related research. This study investigates the effectiveness of XR for audience engagement and the added value that such technologies offer to the user experience as well as possible improvements. The main method adopted for gathering quantitative data is the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), and for qualitative data, through semi-structured interviews. Moreover, the findings are analyzed, interpreted, and discussed. Based on a case study, this paper offers a broader discussion of the challenges and prospects connected to the quest of employing emerging technologies and assessing their impact on visitors’ museum experience, reaching conclusions for future directions in the field.

Music-themed museums serve as institutions that preserve musical instruments

The article discusses music museums that collect, preserve, study, and display materials related to the development of music culture. It notes that the main foundation of each music museum's collection is a collection of musical instruments. The article also highlights the active involvement of scientific-research and public centers in the dissemination of music culture experience of music-profile museums and the implementation of music communication. There is information about museums as the Russian National Music Museum, located in Russia's capital city, Moscow, which has one of the oldest and richest collections of museums; music museum situated in the music city (Cité de la Musique) of Paris, France; National Music Museum in Lisbon, Portugal, which boasts a rich collection of academic and folk musical instruments from Portugal and other countries around the world; The Music Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, established through the personal initiative of businessman Robert Ulrich; the Musical Instruments Museum near the Royal College of Music in London houses a collection of over 800 musical instruments and accessories from Europe, Asia, and Africa, dating back to the 15th century; in Yakutsk, Russia, Museum and Center of The Khomus of The People of The World, founded in 1990, preserves around 10,000 museum items. Finally, the Hamamatsu Musical Instruments Museum, established in 1995, stands out as Japan's first and perhaps only museum dedicated solely to musical instruments.

User experience analysis in virtual museums

The paper presents an analysis of user experience in virtual museums. The objects of interest are museums that offer a virtual walk which allows the user to visit and view exhibitions without leaving home. Among the selected objects for the study were the Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Malbork Castle Museum. The interfaces of these two virtual museums were subjected to eye tracking analysis using the Gazepoint GP3 HD eye tracker and an expert analysis using Nielsen heuristics. Additionally, a survey consisting of questions from the System Usability Scale and self-reported questions was then conducted to help gather information on usability and to collect opinions about online museums. The research group consisted of sixteen students from the Lublin University of Technology, who were presented with the same tasks to perform in the virtual museums. As a result of the research, it turned out that both according to the Nielsen heuristics and the System Usability Scale survey, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum was rated better, while in the eye tracking experiment both museums obtained similar results.

Museum Acoustics: Classification and auralization of design approaches

Architecture defines various aspects of museum spaces. Despite often being considered secondary importance by some deciders and designers, the acoustic environment significantly shapes the interpretation of exhibitions and human-building interactions. Focusing on enhancing museum acoustics, this study builds upon previous research that developed a methodology for simulating and evaluating museum soundscapes through psychophysical experiments in immersive environments, showing that participants preferred congruent soundscapes over generic noise maskers [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 154, A257]. Expanding on these previous investigations, our current research involves cataloging and classifying design approaches currently used within museum contexts—architectural elements, acoustic characteristics, spatial distribution, exhibition strategies, multimodal approaches, etc. Subsequently, we present an auralization method for these museum spaces using the ray tracing method developed for collaborative virtual reality systems [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143, 1824]. This method is used within the CRAIVE-Lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to facilitate tangible analysis, enriching our understanding of these solutions to support future design efforts by guiding architects and acousticians to optimize the museum experience. It offers significant insights into current practices, emerging trends, or notable innovations, thereby promoting more experiential design approaches to shaping the acoustic impacts of the museum environment.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Museum Education in Virtual Environment with 360° Videos

This study aims to evaluate the impact of virtual museum applications incorporating 360° videos on student achievement levels. In this context, a specialized educational environment was designed using 360° videos in a museum education course, and the effects on learning achievements were examined. Additionally, students' perceptions of the developed environment were assessed. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research engaged both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The sample consisted of students majoring in elementary education (N=32) and preschool education (N=29). The quantitative data collection process followed an experimental model with a post-test control group and a randomized design. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews reflecting student opinions. The research findings indicate that virtual museum applications positively influence student achievement levels, particularly noting an enhanced interaction with applications incorporating 360° videos. Moreover, qualitative findings support that students perceive such museum education activities positively, indicating a positive impact on the learning process. Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are proposed for the effective implementation of virtual museum education with 360° videos: Firstly, design virtual museum activities that align with learning objectives and actively engage students. Secondly, it is crucial to instruct students in navigating virtual museum environments using 360° video technology. Additionally, efforts should be made to provide accessible virtual museum experiences for all students. Future research endeavors may delve into a more detailed exploration of the long-term effects of 360° videos in virtual museum education on student learning and engagement. Furthermore, researchers could broaden their perspective by integrating virtual museum education with other teaching formats, such as field trips and hands-on activities.

Structural, Exterior, and Interior Medium of Wood as a Holistic Museum Experience: A Case Study of OMM (Odunpazarı Modern Museum)

The fundamental research inquiry in this study revolves around wood materials’ diverse facets, including structural identities, contextual considerations, interior and external spatial applications, and their user experiences. To address this research, a comprehensive literature review, case study, and survey were conducted. The objective being to elucidate technical, functional, sensory, perceptual, and psychological impacts of wood in a sample structure where it is the primary material in the overarching user experience. The Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM), conceptualized by architect Kengo Kuma and inaugurated in 2019 in Eskişehir, stands as a testament to the historical significance of the timber trade in the region. The deliberate choice of wood as the primary construction material serves as a tribute to this historical narrative. The conspicuous incorporation of wooden lath materials into both the external and interior spaces signify a conscious reference to the region’s historical heritage and aligns with sustainability principles in design. Factors such as form characteristics, dimensional distinctions, spatial arrangements, and the extent of surface interactions collectively contribute to the compelling effect of this integrative approach. Within the confines of the museum, unconventional partitioning is implemented, and the strategic arrangement of masses results in multiple facades, even in the absence of overt wooden surfaces. The exterior impact of the wooden shell complements its interior application. For this reason, OMM enabled the understanding and explanation of all dimensions of the wooden material, including physical, technical, and psychosocial.

Visitor voices in the museum space: sharing art experiences as a dialogic mode in museum communication

Abstract The article takes its point of departure in an experiment conducted at Randers Art Museum, Denmark, in which museum visitors were asked to comment on their experiences with artworks from the museum’s collection. Their comments that were subsequently shared by the museum in the exhibition space. By examining dialogue as a form of participation, the author analyses and discusses how this particular participatory experiment created a dialogical and polyphonic museum experience in which the institutional voice was complemented and even challenged. The article contributes to the field of research on participation by connecting theoretical and practical levels through an experimental methodological approach. It presents concrete recommendations for enhancing visitor-oriented and dialogical strategies in museum communication. Moreover, it demonstrates that the experimental approach can be very useful for both researchers and museum professionals, as long as they reflect on both the limitations and the possibilities of specific experiments like this one.

Service robot acceptance in museums: an empirical study using the service robot acceptance model (sRAM)

PurposeThis study aims to apply the service robot acceptance model (sRAM) to examine how attitude toward human–robot interaction (HRI) and engagement influence consumer acceptance of service robots in a frontline setting.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 255 visitors who interacted with a robotic tour guide at a city museum. The data was analyzed using smart PLS 4.0.FindingsThe findings show the positive effects of subjective norms, appearance, perceived trust and positive emotion on both attitude toward HRI and engagement. In addition, social capability impacted attitude toward HRI, whereas perceived usefulness affected engagement.Practical implicationsTo deliver engaging museum experiences that bring about positive word-of-mouth and intention to visit, managers need to incorporate the sRAM dimensions in the design and deployment of service robots.Originality/valueThis research uses field data to empirically validate the sRAM in the context of service robot acceptance. It introduces engagement as a novel mediating variable, enriching current understanding of human-like qualities in HRIs.

Perspectives of Sound: Promoting Social Inclusion Under the Principle of “Access for All” in Museums

It is predictable that the employment of sound in museums is inevitable for a multitude of different reasons. The contemporary museum’s emphasis on experience and participation has urged a transformation of its cultural paradigm. Multi-sensory experiences that mix auditory, visual, and tactile elements have become increasingly common in museums. Meanwhile, new demands have been placed on the museum experience as it begins to extend beyond the museum itself. It is appropriate for designers to develop a more holistic perspective on the audience’s connection to the exhibits and cultural content, which should also include consideration of sound content. This research examines inclusive construction in Lombardia museums through the perspective of sound. Inclusion is the starting point that sound can be engaged with, and sound contains other potentials to explore.

Moving museums into the Metaverse

In recent years, the fusion of advanced technologies with virtual reality has opened new cultural preservation and engagement avenues. This dissertation explores the innovative application of Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) technology in transcending the boundaries of physical museums and transporting their treasures into the metaverse. While classical computer vision has seen substantial progress, a developing intersection exists between NeRF and cultural heritage preservation. This study bridges this gap by introducing an approach that amalgamates NeRF techniques with the rich cultural wealth of museums.The conventional museum experience is extended into the metaverse through a novel methodology that leverages NeRF’s capabilities. The core objective is to enable individuals to explore digitized museum artifacts with unparalleled realism. NeRF technology captures intricate visual details and enables immersive interactions by rendering scenes with volumetric precision, transforming how cultural artifacts are experienced and understood.This dissertation delves into the technical intricacies of integrating NeRF technology into the metaverse. The implementation involves the reconstruction of 3D artifact models. The results underscore the potential of NeRF to reshape the cultural heritage landscape by bridging the gap between traditional museums and the boundless possibilities of the metaverse.

Immersive experiences in museums for elderly with cognitive disorders: a user-centered design approach

In the context of global aging, to explore the design needs of elderly with dementia in museum environments, to establish a user cognitive psychological model based on immersion theory, and to enhance the satisfaction of cognitively impaired dementia with the museum service experience. Using literature research, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups, we analyze the experience design from the psychological demands of elderly with dementia, build a method of mining user needs by combining the KANO model with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, and establish a model for evaluating the excellence of the experience of the museum environment. The conclusion shows that displaying museum virtual scenes or old objects can effectively increase the subjective well-being of people suffering from various health conditions. The method can accurately tap the attributes of the needs of elderly with dementia, break through the drawbacks of the traditional museum experience design which is dominated by the designer's subjective consciousness, and allow the audience to better experience the museum immersive experience, which provides a new idea and method for the effectiveness of cognitive interventions for elderly with cognitive disorders.

The role of users in the organization of digital information: A Portuguese experience in an academic museum and archive setting

With the evolution of digital platforms, ordinary users have gained the opportunity to participate in the organization of digital knowledge. This has given rise to folksonomies or social indexing, and the duty of information services to integrate user participation in the organization of their digital collections, and thus incorporate folksonomies in their information organization practices. This article presents a case study of the involvement of users of an academic museum and archive in the indexing of a set of resources within a project on digital preservation. The main objective of this study was to analyse the labels or tags suggested by a group of six students from several scientific areas who participated in the experience, and explain the criteria they used to choose and assign the terms to represent the content of the documents. The responses were categorized based on content analysis. The labels assigned by the students were also compared with the indexing terms used by information professionals. Although the students were not familiar with the methods of information professionals, they gained enough sensitivity to understand the need for term validation and recognize that term selection is a subjective choice.

Ternopil region museums in the age of social media: From preservation to interaction

Purpose of the research. The article is devoted to the current topic of museums’ role in modern society, which is characterised by the widespread use of social media as the main communication and information channel. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific and special research methods: analysis, synthesis, generalisation, systematisation of materials, induction, and deduction. The novelty of the study lies in the comprehensiveness of the research on the social media activity of museums in the Ternopil region. The authors investigate how museums adapt to new audience requirements and use social media as a tool to attract visitors, promote cultural heritage, and create a dialogue with the public. The article is based on a comparative analysis of the experience of different museums that use social media to achieve their mission. The authors put forward a hypothesis that museums in the era of social media are moving from preservation to interaction, becoming not only cultural but also social institutions. Conclusions. The author emphasises that museums are important carriers of cultural memory and identity, but their role is changing due to the spread of digital technologies and social media. Social media provide museums with opportunities to increase visibility, attractiveness, and accessibility, as well as to collect feedback, take into account the needs and interests of the audience, and form communities and partnerships. The author analyses how museums use social media for various purposes, such as informing, educating, entertaining, promoting, engaging, collaborating, and socialising. The authors also consider the challenges and benefits of using social media for museums, such as the changing role of visitors, competition with other sources of information and entertainment, and the need to maintain relevance and quality of content. The article concludes that museums in the era of social media should reconsider their mission and strategy to meet current trends and audience expectations. It is determined that museums should move from preservation to interaction, i.e. put not only exhibits in the centre but also people who visit them, creating opportunities for them to learn, communicate, participate, and co-create

Subtle Sound Design: Designing for Experience Blend in a Historic House Museum

In this article, we present and discuss a user-study prototype, developed for the Bakkehuset historic house museum in Copenhagen. We examine how the prototype—a digital sound installation—can expand visitors’ experiences of the house and offer encounters with immaterial cultural heritage. Historic house museums often hold back on utilizing digital communication tools inside the houses, since a central purpose of this type of museum is to preserve an original environment. Digital communication tools, however, hold great potential for facilitating rich encounters with cultural heritage and in particular with the immaterial aspects of museum collections and their histories. In this article, we present our design steps and choices, aiming at subtly and seamlessly adding a digital dimension to a historic house. Based on qualitative interviews, we evaluate how the sound installation at Bakkehuset is sensed, interpreted, and used by visitors as part of their museum experience. In turn, we shed light on the historic house museum as a distinct design context for designing hybrid visitor experiences and point to the potentials of digital communication tools in this context.

Why a Contemporary Art Museum?: The Museum Experience through Contemporary Art Exhibition

Why a Contemporary Art Museum?: The Museum Experience through Contemporary Art Exhibition

Broadening Participation in the Museum Experience Through Interactive Aesthetics: Enabling Access to Pluripositionality in the Inclusive Co-Creation and Dissemination of Audio Descriptions

Broadening Participation in the Museum Experience Through Interactive Aesthetics: Enabling Access to Pluripositionality in the Inclusive Co-Creation and Dissemination of Audio Descriptions