museumsandtheweb.com - Comments

Head of Technology: Indianapolis Museum of Art

silviaf — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:35:31 +0000

The Head of Technology formulates and guides the IMA's vision for technology and technological advancement. Will supervise the work of Information Technology (IT) and IMA Lab staff including the support and planning of the IMA's network infrastructure, email systems, network storage, server applications, desktop support, gallery electronics, helpdesk, and disaster recovery planning. Oversees the internal and external projects of the IMA Lab. Develops and orchestrates technology-driven
solutions in support of institutional goals and objectives.

http://www.imamuseum.org/sites/default/files/attachments/Job%20Openings%...

Thank you. That is very

mherring — Fri, 31 May 2013 12:39:03 +0000

In reply to Drupal vs. wordpress as a cms:

Thank you. That is very helpful. I like your site. Very clean, colorful and responsive.

Hi Matt, On universe.dk we

mica — Fri, 31 May 2013 06:48:34 +0000

In reply to Drupal vs. wordpress as a cms:

Hi Matt,

On universe.dk we were in the same consideration and ended up going with WordPress.

It depends on what your needs are but for us we have been able to get most of the functionality we were looking for with WordPress plugins.

The plugins we use are:
All-in-One Event Calendar by Timely
CMS Page Order
File Gallery
FitVids for WordPress
Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms Campaign Monitor Add-On
Gravity Forms multilingual
jQuery Colorbox
Kimili Flash Embed
Redirection
Regenerate Thumbnails
Universe Subpages in Context (Custom made)
Universe Today's opening hours widget (Custom made)
Velvet Blues Update URLs
W3 Total Cache
WordPress Database Backup
WordPress SEO
WPBakery Visual Composer
WPML Multilingual CMS
WPML String Translation
WPML Translation Management

An idea for change

patterd — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:33:18 +0000

In reply to How do we make change? We want your answers!:

Susan,

I'm a museum-goer, and a technologist. So, I'd like to make some comments from my perspective.

A few years ago I went to the Prado Museum in Madrid. They had a nice booklet with the top "n" works from their museum. The booklet had pictures of each work, and listed the gallery where the work was on display. My wife and I (both comfortable with maps) plotted where each of those works was located on a map of the museum and planned a route that had minimal back-tracking but took us to all of the most-important works. We also plotted our path through a few of the galleries specific to works that were of interest to us. We stopped several times in rooms where there were works that caught our interest in passing.

My thought is that every physical museum should have a way to guide a new visitor past the key works (and maybe take them past a few of the works that they might find interesting).

There should be a way to let the visitor select key works they want to see (assuming they are aware of specific works, specific artists, genres, etc.) and direct them with options for visitors who can use stairs vs. ones who need elevator access.

Every museum has the data spinning around on a storage device to power such a path generator, but I've yet to see a museum offer such a service.

Offered as an idea by someone who visits a good number of museums a year.

Simple museum data electronic archives

richr — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:48:42 +0000

In reply to museum data electronic archives:

Jennifer,
You asked a two part question - cheap archive and making it searchable - at least for a reasonably priced solution.

There are some great very low priced network storage devices, some even web enabled - we use Drobo and Synology - terra-bytes can be had for under $1K. These units are specially interesting because they run linux internally and can add applications.

The 2nd part is the archive -- can't be too specific w/o knowing how your exhibitions are saved - between a sql database load of categoried files and using a search system like Lucene (solr and elastisearch are versions), a repository can be quickly built.

Check http://welovemuseums.com/webservices for some of our work on the topic.

Rich

Ideas, Work, Failure

astephan — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 01:32:02 +0000

In reply to How do we make change? We want your answers!:

Hi Susan,

Thanks for posting this. I wrote up a few preliminary, drafty answers off the cuff that go beyond tweet length. I'm sure I'l get some better ideas from #MW!

Where do you get new ideas?

From my smart colleagues. From riffing, brainstorming, hearing their solutions.

Also, by tinkering: writing, designing, sketching, photographing, etc. Execution is everything.

I use reframing a lot. I like to apply the “who cares?” test: Is it useful? Is it meaningful? Who cares? Putting myself in the shoes of the person looking our stuff gives me a different frame.

When do you get your best work done?

When I stop talking and just say, “what do you think?” (I don't always catch myself, but I'm getting better.) The other person usually has the answer.

Liz Neely tweeted a pic of a business card that just says STOP TALKING. Cracks me up.

How do you deal with “failure”?

By trying harder. That's not always a good strategy, though. It can mean doubling down and doing the same thing as before, except faster and with grimmer determination. I'm really intrigued by research that shows how some people, when they think they've failed, actually lose their ability to solve problems. Right now I'm working on the ability to do less in the face of failure, to create some breathing room to rethink the problem and come up with different solutions. We'll see how that goes.

Cases for iPod touches

Peter Jauss — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:24:45 +0000

In reply to Cases for iPod Touches?:

In response to your query regarding protective cases, I would like to point you to a product that we have provided to many museums and cultural institutions: http://www.paratsolutions.com/museums.

This iPod case is a durable polycarbonate "clamshell" design which provides great protection for the device. It's not bulky and rests nicely in the user's hand. It also includes a convenient neckstrap lanyard allowing visitors to comfortably carry. Best of all, the case covers the iPod Home button to helps ensure that visitors stay exclusively within your tour app and prevent users from changing device settings or using device features that may distract them from their tour.

Great Event

matt11 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:44:49 +0000

In reply to Event: ONLINE": What can Museums and Galleries learn from online education in Universities, and vice versa?:

This was great event. Phyllis Hecht puts great emphasis on historical, current and emerging theories, concepts, issues, techniques and practice in education and visitor studies in museums and cognate fields. This event provides training both for professionals involved in museum education, learning and visitor studies and for those who wish to undertake further research in the field.

Lead Web Developer opportunity at the V&A, London

delete — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:41:47 +0000

In reply to Museums and the Web 2013 Early Registration Thru Dec 31st:

Dear List members,

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced web developer to lead our development here within the V&A Digital Media department. Please pass onto talented individuals who have the passion to both change the face of museum digital experience on the web and mobile, and for art and design. We have a number of exciting projects in the programme and offer a friendly and supportive working environment.

For full details of the post and how to apply, visit the V&A jobs page:

http://bit.ly/10SbIyS

Andrew Lewis
Digital Content Delivery Manager
Digital Media Team
Victoria and Albert Museum
South Kensington
London SW7 2RL

MW2013 ignite!

NancyProctor — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 03:18:27 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

Thanks so much for all the great ideas. We are able to implement most of these in at least a pilot form in MW2013 - except the cruise ship! Stay tuned – and we'll be tapping many of you for further input!

Suggesting research directions and challenges

tsvikak — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:12:55 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

MW conferences may be a great place for putting together a list of research challenges, to try and direct academic research in areas of web and mobile technologies and novel intelligent user interfaces (large, situated displays, tabletops etc) for better supporting the museum visit experience online and onsite.

Livestreaming and ideas from other sectors

kajsahartig — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 04:25:33 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

Some ideas for MW2013:

1) MW would benefit from livestreaming at least the keynotes, the main sessions and the Best of the Web Awards, and keep it in a Web-TV section on the conference site. Why not open up for crowdsourcing livestreaming of all sessions/demonstrations, i.e. encourage people to livestream themselves when there's no official livestreaming?

2) It'd be excellent to invite one or two speakers from ex. educational sector and from the communications sector, to inspire and exchange ideas. Maybe as keynotes. I think it's essential to look at what others are doing.

3) The Unconference sessions: Why not put up a grid with rooms and time slots where people from the very first day of the conference can add their suggestions, and where people can add their interest in participation? Then everything is set on the day of the un conference sessions.

Check PDF

Wesley Hsu — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:27:36 +0000

In reply to Paid Internship (7months): WordPress CMS Development, Royal BC Museum Canada:

Check out the pdf linked on the page, there are more specific requirements and contact info.

http://www.museumsandtheweb.com/files/yep_job_bulletin.pdf

Text

Liattina — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:48:52 +0000

In reply to Mapping the Musetech Landscape:

This is really really well done!
Is it possible, since the audio is not so good, to have it as a descriptive text?
Thanks in advance,
Liat

immersive xperience methodology

angeleta — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:37:39 +0000

In reply to Suggestions for the MW2012 Program?:

I am interested in any seminars or partnerships, on virtual worlds 3D and immersive learning experience, we have a 3D project with old a 3d laboratory with a virtual library where children will perform virtual experiments on different subjects like Alchemy from the 1600, forensic archaeologicalmanalysis, excavating..etc. We would be interested in evaluation methodology when it comes to immersive experience, any interest in that?
Read about our project here
http://www.idi.ntnu.no/news/?news=403

Sendt fra min iPad

Application Process?

jphillips60 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:24:07 +0000

In reply to Paid Internship (7months): WordPress CMS Development, Royal BC Museum Canada:

How does one apply for this position? I'm extremely interested in this internship as I will be finishing my Bachelor's degree in English this coming fall semester. If I could get some information on how to apply, I'd be greatly appreciative!
Thanks

thanks!

patschettino — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:58:01 +0000

In reply to Mapping the Musetech Landscape:

It is brilliant! many thanks for sharing the map and the video about the map. The audio is not so clear, but I guess that you reduced the quality of the original audio to make the video smaller...

PSD

Norbert Kanter — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:54:41 +0000

In reply to Mapping the Musetech Landscape:

Hi Jeff, would be grateful for the PSD file. Thanks! Norbert (norbert.kanter@zetcom.com)

Image of Final Landscape

Jeff Gates — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:37:23 +0000

In reply to Mapping the Musetech Landscape:

I have a very large image of the three paneled landscape map. Here is a link to the jpeg. If you need it more detailed I've got the PSD.

concrete steps

rainermack — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:54:28 +0000

In reply to Interloper Report:

I've been thinking about Nancy's invitation to suggest concrete steps toward involving other museum practitioners in MW. I know others are thinking about this as well (it's so great to see how much interest the idea has generated - I can see that the MW community is truly "open source"!). Anyway, here is one thought...

I came to MW2012 on my own initiative and out of my own interest (as did my colleague, Getty curator Peter Bjorn Kerber, and I'm sure others). Maybe a place to start is for MW regulars to seek out such "digital allies" in curatorial, education, design, etc. departments and invite them to attend MW2013 as their partner. Kind of a Sadie Hawkins approach. There could be a forum at the conference for partners to meet and share what they are learning/discovering and how it might or might not translate back at their home institutions. This could generate networks of digital allies in various museum roles who could continue the conversation post-conference, and support each other in advancing digital media work in their particular outposts. If your partner can't make it to the conference because of money/schedule/theirowndepartment'swarpedpriorities, they could follow from afar via twitter (#digitalally), live stream, or...? (Actually this would probably be the majority given how tight budgets are these days...so maybe this part of the idea needs bolstering.)

This approach focuses mostly on building relationships, extending networks, and bridging (intertwining) different disciplinary conversations.

Rainer

An idea to consider!

angeleta — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:48:46 +0000

In reply to Interloper Report:

What an interesting discussion, I was also new tho the MW and I would mlike to propose for the next one to have sessions where same issues, like vistor experience or design of content generated sites, or educational games all thatbdigital or not were evaluated by the Museums themselves and whether the different proffessions were involved in that and how. Evaluation is a tool to be shared by all since it serves the interest of all and measures success on different levels. i thought the last seesion of the failed projects could be a way to go!
Thakns again for a very inspiring conference to all.

digital evangelist

gramirez — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:58:45 +0000

In reply to Interloper Report:

Thank you for your post Rainer. I too was new to the MW conference and am also in Education – I knew I couldn’t be the only one. I completely share your feelings. I’ve never had so much to share with colleagues after a conference. There were so many parallels to what museum educators struggle with when designing engaging programs I can’t stop thinking about it. My position as Digital Media Manager in the Education Department is very new for our museum, and you are not alone, the term Digital Evangelist also resonated with me. On the flight home I was trying to guess how long it would take our museum to get past the internal hurdles of a Digital Media Strategy presented by a tireless Digital Evangelist to finally begin to focus on the needs and expectations of our visitors.

the unconference

jikpeter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:03:53 +0000

In reply to Interloper Report:

Thanks for this fantastic post. It was my first MW, and I think I'm hooked, just as you have been!

I wanted to mention that I also sat in the digital strategy unconference session and it just keeps popping up in the post-conference conversation. It was the highlight of my conference experience, and it seemed to be a quite an "aha" moment for others as well. I hope we can continue to discuss digital strategy holistically, as we no longer have to prove to others at our organizations that technology is worthwhile. We now have to figure out how to organize and integrate our efforts, since everyone wants a piece of it. We're the cool kids now!

Thanks again.

Thank you for your post!

NancyProctor — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:12:37 +0000

In reply to Interloper Report:

What a moving and insightful testimonial to the value of MW! I know I'm not exactly objective, but as an attendee for the past decade or so, I found my response resonated with your experience of the conference and community.

I'd really like to work on your final challenge: bring the educators, curators, designers and others to the table who may otherwise feel excluded from MW - or, more to the point, that digital media in general is irrelevant to their work. Let's stay in touch, and please let me know if you envision any concrete steps that could help make our dream come true!

All the best,
Nancy

Program Booklet & Active Notetakers

zachszukala — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:03:21 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

This may be a rather non-academic suggestion, but one that would aid in the experience and in following up on inspiration and actionables later on: A program that has notes sections in line with session descriptions. A nice takeaway for those who like to keep organized and have a cohesive conference archive always at the ready!

Engaging with non-English speaker audiences

Matthew Heenan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:10:27 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

This is an increasingly important issue for almost all museums - I'd be happy to help put a session like this together

Staff exchanges

Ed Rodley — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:55:00 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

As Nancy hinted on Twitter, I have done a bit of research into staff exchanges and would be happy to share some initial ideas on how a peer-organized scheme might work. If there's interest, I'll put up a Google doc people can add to.

UPDATE: Here's a draft.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RPzUxG3_agpV7CSeomYoNM-b3Co9qwT4hqbo...

Comments welcomed. Please leave a name and email address if you make any edits.

International locations & tech for dummies

psully — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:46:53 +0000

In reply to Ideas for MW2013:

There's been some talk throughout the conference re: future locations. One idea I heard was Hawaii, and another idea was Mexico City.

I'd also love to see a track dedicated toward "0-60" - how to start projects. How do you get started in linked open data, creating a TAP tour, etc. We talk about projects a lot, but how can we actively implement some of these ideas?

Full Reports and Slideshare

sbeasley — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:38:13 +0000

In reply to A Study of Digital Media, Tools, and Technology Use:

Access to our full reports: http://www.msichicago.org/digitallife
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/stevenbeasley/digital-media-in-everyday-life

-Steven

URL to our Reports and Slideshare

sbeasley — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:37:46 +0000

In reply to Tools for tapping into visitor behavior:

Access to our full reports: http://www.msichicago.org/digitallife
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/stevenbeasley/digital-media-in-everyday-life

-Steven