User:Irinabjerkvold/sandbox

= Why go to the museum in the digital age? = "Why go to museums, why are they needed because everything can be seen on-line? There is no single answer to these questions. Some people think that prestigious academic museums are outdated; their form is obsolete. Others accuse museums of elitism and snobbery. But for a person, self-realisation, awareness of personal culture, a different understanding of the world, art is essential. Museums take on many functions in making a person aware of himself as an educated and intellectual person. In this post-block, I will try to answer these questions and express my point of view on this topic."This post block is part of my work on the course “IMT4316 User-centred Information Architecture” Master’s degree program “Interaction Design” in NTNU Norway.

Are museums a cemetery of art?
It so happened that the theme of museums plays a considerable role in my life. For twenty-one years, I lived in a city with more than 200 museums. I discussed with my friends and colleagues exhibitions or cultural events taking place in a particular museum. As a designer, I worked with the largest museums in the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, etc. I was familiar with art historians, restorers and museum researchers. But with the move to Norway, everything changed. I don’t go to real museums so often, but more often I visit virtual museums and virtual exhibitions.

Modern technologies have given humanity the Internet, and we have gained access to knowledge and information. Here is a blessing for all who seek information on any topic, in any field. But despite all the advantages, digital technology has created inertia in humans. Earlier students spent hours in the library before passing the exam looked for the necessary information in the university library, went to the museums. But now this is no longer necessary. Today, everything you need can be found on the Internet, without getting up from your desk, sitting in front of the computer. You can visit electronic libraries with electronic books or virtual museums. And in the walls of real museums, every visitor is worth its weight in gold.

Here I need to say that the largest museums in the world, such as the Louvre, the Austrian Belvedere Gallery, the British Tate Gallery, etc., will not lose their visitor. But the small museums are empty. Is that trouble? Or not? Is it possible to say that the museum as an institution of culture is turning into an anachronism? Or, as Alphonse de Lamartine said, are museums a cemetery of art?

Who went to museums before? Mom and dad, grandparents can quickly tell modern youth about how public organisations organised cultural trips to theatres, cinema, exhibitions, even excursions to museums in other cities and countries. And the composition of visitors was of different ages.

And now? At best, museums are visited by schoolchildren, headed by a teacher, who makes sure that all students in the class go to the museum. Unfortunately, few people want to go to the museum. Most experts believe that young people and schoolchildren, due to their age, are not yet able to filter out information coming from TV and the Internet. So it turns out that the teenager of the 21st century is much more interested in contemporary events, those that are happening here and now, rather than studying the culture and history of the world, country, city, etc.

The Real museum vs the Virtual museum
When we start the debate about the “Academic Museum vs Virtual Museum”, we ask more questions than we answer. Can a museum only be virtual? Can online content help preserve the museum and its display? Can a visit to online museums be a complete substitute for a physical visit to a museum? When we delve into the details of the debate, there are always many questions than answers. Why, despite its conservatism, is the museum one of the primary vehicles for the culture of participation in society?

Some people claim that currently museums are losing their popularity and nowadays museums are not necessary. Others believe that museums are the best places where people can touch culture and history. In my opinion, museums play an essential role in our lives. Visiting museums allows us to see different exhibits and get the necessary information about a particular event in history and culture. Secondly, a museum is a form of educational entertainment that helps to spend free time.

Despite this, people can get all the necessary information from the Internet, which is known as the most convenient form of media. Such an electronic device helps to avoid crowds, save time and money on tickets. However, I do not agree with this point of view, because the Internet cannot express the mood and feelings of museum life. People never understand the importance of the ancient relics of our ancestors through the computer screen, even in the era of digital technology.

In modern society, success depends on information literacy, self-confidence, ability to communicate effectively and solve problems. Skills are changing, choices are increasing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make decisions. The museum is the custodian of cultural materials and has always controlled access to and use of its collections. But the digital revolution has radically changed cultural models and forced museums to rethink their attitude to their audience as users of cultural content. Museums also try to keep up with progress.

The phenomenon of the virtual museum appeared due to the synthesis of the Internet and information technology. The virtual museum is a dynamically developing cultural phenomenon. A virtual museum is a space that uses interactive features on electronic media, allowing the user to “move” among three-dimensional rooms and get acquainted with the necessary images and information. Of course, the prototype for a virtual museum was a real museum with its structural organisation (exhibits, exhibitions, expositions, storage, catalogues, etc.

The prestigious museum focuses on the presentation of collections and in its decisions proceeds from the fact that it can be interestingly shown to visitors. In contrast, a virtual museum uses involvement and exchange. All efforts of the virtual museum are focused on exploring the actual interest and needs of the audience and lively dialogue with modernity. The museum’s ability to respond to the needs of society and flexibly reorganise its activities, opening up opportunities for the visitor to participate, becomes the key to his survival and public support.

Through their intensive development, virtual museums gradually began to move away from the sites of traditional museums. At present, it can be stated that the phenomenon of virtual museums has essential properties. First, it always exists in virtual space. Its location is the Internet, but the basis is real exhibits, so it has its structure. At the same time, for each organiser, there are opportunities to choose the structure and organisation that is most convenient and visual.

Museums are significant in the development of the tourism industry in any country. Almost every world-famous city is associated with a specific museum, where a unique story is visually and vividly told. Nowadays, it is complicated for museums to compete with new leisure activities, such as cinemas, the Internet, mass shows, and so on. The museum’s strategy is to attract people, but at the same time not to oppose the new forms and channels of information, transfer knowledge in a modern format. The main secret of the museum is to combine education and entertainment. Do I need to bring advanced technology to the museum? The answer, again, is ambiguous. You can do this only if the techniques are used as a tool of information-cognitive, impressive effect. Information balance and aesthetic principles must be observed.

Digital technology can enable museums to increase access to their collections and become significant distributors of cultural content. It will enhance the image of museums as well as traditional activities such as collection management, curatorial practice and research. Digitisation of cultural collections will also allow the use of digital images. Easy to reproduce, aggregate and transmit, they have great potential for use and reuse in a networked digital environment. Web interfaces allow users to analyse and publish copies of digital images, create new links and explore them. It will enable museums to move to a new level of development and create access to knowledge for the general public of users.

The seven best modern museums in the world
In conclusion of my post, I would like to give the most successful examples of museums that use technological solutions in exhibitions and expositions. New formats allow you to realise literally all ideas that are designed to make visiting a museum fascinating, useful and memorable.

1.The Museum of The Future. United Arab Emirates

The UAE Museum of the Future is located near the business district and seven minutes from the Burj Khalifa Tower. In the outside, the futuristic design of the museum resembles a ring created by Killa Design.

In the inside, it is no less modern: special capsule lifts, touch walls and walking assistant robots. Created by the Dubai Future Foundation, the museum is developing new solutions in the areas of artificial intelligence and innovation. The museum has a laboratory, where international experts are invited to work on the problems of global warming and the lack of freshwater.

2. Museu do Amanhã. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In 2016, the Museum of Tomorrow (Portuguese: Museu do Amanhã in ) designed by Santiago Calatrava Studios opened in Rio de Janeiro. On the first floor of the museum are technical and administrative premises, a cosy cafe and a large lecture hall — a level above — exhibitions and interactive exhibits. Besides, the museum has an observation deck overlooking the harbour and the monastery of São Bento, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

3. Miraikan. Tokyo, Japan

The Miraikan National Museum of Advanced Science and Technology is a centre where you can see first-hand the latest developments in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and much more. Under the dome is one of the symbols of the museum — a model of the Earth from orbits. Initially, the museum was created as an educational centre for children. Many exhibits are specially made so as not to let children get bored.

You can not only look at them but also click on them, twist and move. So every child does not lose interest and remains involved in the process. To make it easier to move around the museum, specialists came up with the first of its kind UNI-CUB individual mobility devices. You can choose any program, and the robot will conduct an orientation tour for you around Miraikan.

The museum has several permanent exhibits. Here you can see the solar system, get acquainted with the structure of the human cell and with the possibilities of medicine in the future, etc. Finally, Miraikan is the only place to see a demonstration of the ASIMO humanoid robot.

4. Museum of Science. Trento, Italy

Museum of Science (MUSE — Museo delle Scienze) is located in the small Italian town of Trento. Architect Renzo Piano turned the former industrial zone into a space for rethinking the relationship between man and nature.

Due to the transparent glass walls, the building is penetrated by light, and the large central opening that connects all floors is designed to show a subtle relationship between all the natural processes of the Earth.

Museum visitors will learn about the pressing problems of humanity, about the secrets of the human genome and see the structure of DNA. The museum’s specialists also came up with technologies that allow them to survive real emotions. For example, visitors can imagine themselves as skiers or snowboarders who rush from the top of the mountain through a snowy valley. In the smart gym, visitors will learn the laws of physics and mechanics using interactive devices.

5. City of Arts and Sciences. Valencia, Spain

The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia (El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe) is a six-building complex designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. The building of the Museum of Sciences El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe is intended for cultural and educational recreation for both adults and children. The ground floor hosts permanent exhibitions, free to visit. The second floor is dedicated to interactive science exhibits. In the centre of the hall is an original sculpture in the form of a DNA molecule. The third floor is wholly devoted to the works of three outstanding scientists — Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Severo Ochoa de Albornoz and Jean-Baptiste-Gabriel-Joachim Dausset.

6. Museum of Science and Art. Singapore

Moshe Safdie designed the museum of Science and Art and is located in the vast complex Marina Bay Sands. This is the first museum that combines science and art. Outside, the building resembles a lotus with “petals”, the highest of which reaches 60 meters. One of the main features of the museum is the ArtScience gallery space, where visitors can create exhibits themselves using individual interactive and creative stations. In total, the museum has 21 halls, each of which hosts thematic exhibitions.

7. Science and Technology Museum. Shanghai

The museum building resembles a space flying saucer. The exhibits are grouped into five main areas — heaven and earth, life, reason, inventions and the future. Also, the museum has special programs for children — on the fundamental laws of chemistry and physics where they use individual interactive platforms that ensure the full involvement of children in the process.

But whatever the museum, first of all, it is a way to preserve history, heritage, heritage and it does not matter in what form and in what kind it will be. The main thing is that it is available.