How museums are embracing interactivity and immersive experiences

Museums are embracing the latest technology in their battle to remain relevant in the digital age.

The customary method of visiting museums has changed. Technology and science keep up with the times, and increasingly inventive interactive visits make museums more appealing.

Museums have increasingly embraced interactive experiences as a way to engage visitors and make the learning process more immersive and participatory. These interactive elements aim to create a deeper connection between the museum and its audience by encouraging active exploration and personal involvement.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) is a renowned museum in London, dedicated to documenting the history of conflict and its impact on people and societies, covering war and conflict from the First World War to the present day. The museum strives to tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. By doing this, they encourage people to view conflict from several angles, deepening their awareness of the reasons behind war and its trajectory as well as its effects. 

IWM houses an extensive collection of artefacts, photographs, documents, and personal stories related to conflicts from World War I to the present day. The exhibits often combine historical objects with multimedia presentations, interactive displays, and immersive installations to provide a comprehensive and engaging experience.

I discovered that the Imperial War Museum offers various interactive experiences to engage visitors and provide a deeper understanding of the impact of war. I found some excellent examples of interactive elements people can find in each floor of the museum.

Interactive Exhibits

The IWM features numerous interactive exhibits that allow visitors to engage directly with historical artifacts and stories. Visitors can handle objects related to World War I, such as gas masks or trench periscopes, to get a sense of what life was like for soldiers on the front lines. 

In the World War I equipment and facilities exhibition area, the various clothes worn by soldiers from various countries during the war are neatly arranged for people to try on and take photos for commemoration. In order to truly experience what it was like to be a soldier in World War I, many tourists are interested in changing into combat gear, then board armoured vehicles and pick up the rifle models.

Immersive Displays

The museum employs multimedia and immersive installations to bring historical events to life. For instance, visitors can explore the recreated World War I trench system and experience the sights, sounds, and conditions faced by soldiers during the conflict. The use of sound effects, lighting, and projection techniques enhances the immersive experience. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, and students interested in military history, social history, and the impact of war on societies.

Digital Interactives

The IWM integrates digital technologies to provide interactive learning experiences. Visitors can access touchscreens, digital displays, and interactive maps to delve deeper into specific battles, campaigns, or wartime themes. These interactive elements provide additional information, personal stories, and multimedia content to enrich the visitor’s understanding.

This museum’s digital interactive equipment let visitors better understand the route and map of the Allies of World War II attacking Axis Power. A colourful and clear map of Europe was opened and presented as soon as I put one palm on the big touchscreen, allowing me to easily understand the locations of various vital areas and the state of the war at the time. I also can click on each location on the map and view more detailed content.

Oral histories and personal testimonies

The museum incorporates audio and video recordings of veterans, survivors, and witnesses to war, allowing visitors to listen to firsthand accounts of their experiences. These oral histories provide a powerful and personal connection to the events being presented, fostering empathy and understanding.

In the World War II exhibition area, I observed a row of military wired communication earphones. I put on the earphones and tried to use them. I could hear real voices from the war and communication conversations from front-line soldiers.

Museums are typically thought of as destinations to house and display art, artefacts and collections of cultural interest. But it is becoming more clear that museums must actively engage their visitors in order to survive in a time when people’s attention spans are getting shorter. To do this, many museums are turning to interactive activities like games, in their various forms, to both engage and educate those who walk through their doors.

Games in museum

Games are great tools for learning. The wonderful thing about games, though, is that they are not just for kids and can be effective education tools in your exhibitions for adults and children alike.

Video games can impressively tell us about conflict. The war game area in Imperial War Museum shows how video games interpret stories about war and conflict which can reflected events from the First World War to the present. From first-person shooters to real-time strategy campaigns, these modern games depict thoroughly researched historical events. They use distinctive graphic styles and techniques which reveal contemporary societal attitudes.

I met a middle-aged man named Charlie who came to the museum with two kids on the third floor’s war gaming experience section. He said “This place has a fascinating interactive experience area where you can use the joystick while wearing headphones, sit on a specially made chair, and watch and simulate war games on a big screen”.

“This military simulation game has captured the attention of my kids, they are quite interested in it. They have become immersed in it. I believe this can help them better experience how war is raging and also enable them to learn more relevant knowledge.” Charlie said.

Application in other museums

Interactive experiences also play significant roles in other museums in London, enhancing visitor engagement and creating memorable educational opportunities. 

Natural History Museum, it offers several interactive experiences that engage visitors with the natural world.Visitors can experience earthquake simulations, handle fossils and specimens, and explore the interactive Darwin Centre.

Museum of London, it explores the history of London, and it offers interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages. From immersive galleries to digital interactives, the museum provides engaging experiences that bring the city’s past to life.

They all demonstrate how interactive experiences are employed in London’s museums to engage visitors, promote active learning, and create immersive environments. By encouraging participation, exploration, and personal connections with the exhibits, these museums enhance visitor understanding and appreciation of the subject matter, leaving a lasting impact on their museum experiences.

Nowadays, it is undeniable that museums are gradually moving away from people’s vision. Tourists who visit museums once may not go there again, or they may only go there many years later. 

The key to powerful storytelling would be to engage visitors with the past in a contemporary way.

And what better way to do that than with technology. Today’s museums have a plethora of display technology at their disposal that connects to and engages with visitors, all while still tying into the design of the exhibit as a whole.

The future of museums is being shaped by various innovations that aim to enhance visitor experiences, embrace technology, and adapt to evolving societal needs. To attract visitors and encourage repeat visits, museums can implement various strategies that enhance the overall visitor experience and engage different audiences. 

What can museums do to effectively apply the achievements of various technology advancement to attract visitors?

Innovative storytelling and interpretation

Museums can develop innovative and captivating ways of presenting information and stories. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies offer exciting prospects for museums. VR can transport visitors to different time periods, recreate historical events, or allow them to explore inaccessible locations. AR overlays digital content onto the physical exhibits, providing additional information, interactive elements, or animated visualizations that enrich the visitor’s understanding.

Incorporate storytelling techniques that connect visitors emotionally to the content and foster a sense of curiosity and discovery. These technologies allow visitors to explore historical or fictional environments, interact with virtual objects, and have personalized experiences.

Digital and Mobile Integration

Today, plenty of museums around the world are leveraging digital platforms and mobile applications to enhance visitor engagement. This includes providing interactive audio guides, mobile apps for self-guided tours, and digital content accessible through smartphones or tablets. Additionally, museums are embracing technologies like beacons and QR codes to provide context-specific information and multimedia content.

Traditional audio guides have evolved into mobile applications that provide visitors with audio commentary, additional insights, and behind-the-scenes stories about specific exhibits or artworks. These applications often allow users to customize their experience by selecting their preferred language, themes of interest, or specific areas they want to explore.

By using mobile apps with AR capabilities, visitors can scan markers or specific objects within the museum to access additional multimedia content, interactive elements, or virtual reconstructions. This enhances the visitor’s understanding and creates a more immersive and interactive experience.

Personalized Experiences

Museums are moving towards providing personalised experiences tailored to individual visitors. They are developing tools and technologies to offer tailored tours and itineraries. This can involve interactive mobile apps or digital platforms that allow visitors to create their own personalised routes through the museum. These tools may provide curated content based on visitor preferences, highlight specific exhibits of interest, and offer additional information or multimedia resources.

Visitors can choose the exhibits and activities that interest them most, follow their own pace, and delve deeper into topics that resonate with them. This personalised approach accommodates different learning styles and preferences, resulting in a more tailored and effective educational experience. This unique visiting technology has broad application prospects especially in history museums, and many famous museums have already carried out these explorations and practices. 

Virtual and Online Exhibitions

Museums are exploring virtual and online platforms to extend their reach beyond physical spaces. This includes creating virtual exhibitions that can be accessed remotely, providing online collections and resources, and utilizing digital platforms for educational programs and events. Virtual reality can transport visitors to different time periods or locations, allowing them to interact with historical artifacts or artworks in a unique way. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical access to museums was restricted or limited, many museums turned to online exhibitions as a means of continuing to engage with audiences and providing cultural experiences to them. Museums created virtual tours that allowed visitors to explore their galleries and exhibitions remotely. Using 360-degree photography or video, visitors could navigate through different rooms and zoom in on artworks or artifacts of interest. 

Museums made their collections accessible online, allowing visitors to browse and search through digital databases. High-resolution images of artworks or objects were made available, accompanied by detailed information about their historical and cultural significance. Users could explore collections based on themes, artists, time periods, or other categories.

Incorporating cross-disciplinary elements

Catherine, a BA Curating student of Goldsmiths, University of London, said: “Curating students often have diverse academic backgrounds, ranging from art history and anthropology to technology and design. These interdisciplinary perspectives can enrich the museum experience by connecting different fields of knowledge.”

“I have been to the ArtScience Museum in Singapore, a typical museum which has intertwined art, science and technology. The museum has become known for its boundary-pushing exhibits.” Catherine said.

“Last year, its VR gallery transported visitors to California’s Sequoia National Park. To fully immerse visitors in the forest, it used 3D stereo sound, scent dispersal systems, and wind machines. Particularly, by accurately replicating the directional sound cues, I can feel like they are truly present in the virtual environment.”

These trends and innovations are continuously evolving as technology advances and visitor expectations change. By embracing these developments, museums can create more dynamic, interactive, and inclusive experiences for visitors while preserving and sharing cultural and historical artifacts.

By implementing various interactive experience and other advanced technology, museums can largely enhance the visitor experience, foster their curiosity and learning, engage and immerse visitors in the exhibits. It also create a compelling reason for both tourists and locals to revisit the museum.

There will be more exploration ahead for people in the future of the museum visiting, so we’ll see what happens!

Feature image by Electrosonic.