[MCN-L] Location base services in museums, seeking examples

Laurie Stepp has been conducting research into location-based technologies for the Smithsonian. Her early findings and a link to some examples I published in 2005 are available here: http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Location-based+technologies We'd be delighted for others to add

[MCN-L] Research Project - Crowdsourcing for Museums

Hi Krista, The Smithsonian also uses mobile in several apps for crowdsourcing, on the Roundware.orghttp://Roundware.org platform. I'll be happy to speak to you about our projects but you may also be able to see Dan Davis and my presentation about crowdsourcing verbal descriptions of collection

[MCN-L] Online vs physical visits

I really appreciated Bruce Wyman and Nick Poole's responses to the question about online cannibalizing in-person museum visits. Sadly this is still a question museum technologists face, but more importantly I agree we need to do better at measuring ROI - though I would add, on all platforms

[MCN-L] Looking for help developing an RFP for a semi-mobile kiosk solution

We?d like to pick your brains about the best way to approach a new digital project at the Smithsonian! The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) is considering the development of a mobile website and/or tablet application for visitors to its upcoming exhibition, Hometown

[MCN-L] Project Access New York City: 2 May at MoMA

Posting on behalf of Nina Levent, Executive Director, Art Beyond Sight Institute [director at artbeyondsight.org] I'll be speaking in the afternoon session about crowdsourcing for mobile accessibility, alongside lots of other colleagues from the cultural sector, including Piotr Adamczyk. :-)

[MCN-L] App stats

Some stats from the Smithsonian to echo Rob Stein's message below regarding prioritizing mobile web: Although we have far fewer mobile websites at the Smithsonian than mobile apps (see the complete list at http://si.edu/mobile), we get more traffic to our mobile websites than to all our apps

[MCN-L] Docent tour audio mcn-l Digest, Vol 86, Issue 9

Hi Koven, Most of the older audio tour companies offer radio systems for group tours. It's a tried and tested system and I'm sure a sales rep from any of them can give you a thorough overview. Key is having a separate channel for each group if you'll have several in close proximity as the range

[MCN-L] Google Art Project

Emily, Here is the link to the article I wrote on the project for Curator Journal: http://www.curatorjournal.org/archives/635 See also the original blog post and comments from project participants and others, linked to from this page. Best wishes, Nancy Proctor

[MCN-L] user-created galleries/portfolios

Ann, It's a good and timely question, especially since the launch of the Google Art Project. I'd be interested to hear about use of collecting tools on museum websites, any data museums might have, and see if there's a way of comparing those metrics against use of the collection feature in GAP

[MCN-L] MCN 2011 Conference: Help us choose the conference theme by Feb 12!

Hello everyone, We?ve gotten a lot of great ideas for conference themes, sessions, and new and expanded program areas for the Atlanta conference, Nov 16-19, 2011. I?d like to get your feedback on the suggestions below and other ideas by Feb 12, so we can announce the conference theme and call

[MCN-L] iPad security

You guys are awesomeness personified! Thanks so much for sharing this, Nancy On 12/21/10 3:00 PM, mcn-l-request at mcn.edu mcn-l-request at mcn.edu wrote: Message: 1 Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:59:19 + From: Christina DePaolo cdepaolo at bpoc.org Subject: Re: [MCN-L] iPad security

[MCN-L] MCN 2011: Call for ideas and proposals open NOW!

The enthusiasm from MCN 2010 in Austin has been huge and ideas for making MCN 2011 even more memorable have been coming fast and thick, so we have decided to open the call for proposals early this year in order to capture the momentum! From today you can go ahead and propose sessions, even if

[MCN-L] Correction: MCN 2011 Dates are Nov 16-19, 2011!

Of course I had to get something wrong: dates for Atlanta are Nov 16-19, 2011! Hopefully I have enough time to get that right! Nancy Want to hear more about mobile? * Smithsonian staff can sign up for the SI Mobile mailing list here:

[MCN-L] Audio wand

Linda, Peter is right. The headphones germs issue has been tackled resolved innumerable times in the past 60 years since the invention of audio guides, not to mention in every museum that has ever had an audio or video kiosk or installation with headphones. I recommend you talk to any reputable

[MCN-L] 2010 Tate Handheld Conference

Museums and Mobiles in the Age of Social Media At Tate Modern, Tuesday 7 September 2010, 10.30-17.30 Almost everyone has a mobile in their pocket, but are museums ready to communicate with their audiences in this way? This symposium is for museum workers who want to know more about how the new

[MCN-L] Help us build a standard for Mobile Content!

One more reason to come to the Tate Handheld Conference and MCN in 2010! In the last 18 months literally dozens of new mobile platforms have entered the market, giving museums ever more options for planning, producing, and launching new experiences for visitors on their mobile devices. But how

[MCN-L] cross-platform apps?

John, The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has a cross-platform (Apple Android) app called MEanderthal. I think the Canadian Museum of Civilization's app is Apple Blackberry, coming out soon on Android too. I think everyone wants to work cross-platform, but it takes additional

[MCN-L] QR code At the Entrance To The Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Gerry, That is indeed a QR code! Unfortunately the image is too small or blurry for my QR reader to read. Were you able to see what it links to? How interesting! Thanks for sharing! Nancy -- Nancy Proctor, PhD Head of Mobile Strategy Initiatives Smithsonian Institution Office of the Chief

[MCN-L] 2 Mobile Content Workshops at the Smithsonian 29 Mar 2010

From the CTO's Best Practice Series at the Smithsonian Institution The Mobile Museum: Mobile content and experience design for audiences on-site and beyond http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Mobile+Content+29+Mar+2010 Two free, half-day workshops in the Rasmuson Theater at the

[MCN-L] iPhone app discussion

I agree with Stephanie. Just yesterday I came across another company offering this model in which the app CMS are free to the museum, and revenue is shared between the provider and museum on app or tour sales. That brings my count to 4 that I'm aware of for sure: 1. Toura 2. uGuideMe 3.

[MCN-L] MCN 2010 Program

Dear Allan, Simon, et al. Thanks so much for bringing your thoughts on this to the discussion of the MCN 2010 program. Although new to the position of MCN program chair, I am familiar with the tension between wanting to have as many great speakers and presentations as possible in conferences,

[MCN-L] MCN 2010: Other ideas and innovations last call for theme ideas!

In addition to wanting your input into the selection of MCN's conference theme in 2010, we'd love to get your other ideas on how we can make this year memorable and valuable, both to those who attend and those who can only join us through the web. I posted a few ideas on the wiki at:

[MCN-L] Reminder: What would make MCN 2010 a must-attend event for YOU?

Just a reminder that we'd love to have your input and ideas for MCN's 2010 Conference Theme. You can leave your comments on the wiki: http://mcn2010.pbworks.com/, respond to this list, or email me directly. And if you're interested in helping out with the program committee, let me know! Many

[MCN-L] MCN 2010 Conference: What are the must-attend topics?

Hi all, As program chair for MCN's fabulous conference in Austin, Texas (Oct 27-30, 2010), I'd love to get your help on setting the conference theme. Below are some ideas from the MCN board and SIG chairs. I've posed them on a Conference Program Planning Wiki where we can add to and amend the

[MCN-L] MCN Metrics Evaluation SIG

I've put the outline for my presentation on using visitor research to design a mobile experience up on the MuseumMobile.info wiki: http://wiki.museummobile.info/museums-to-go/experience-design (be sure to click the links too) If anyone has comments or questions before Thurs, I'll address them

[MCN-L] Tiny URLs

Does anyone know or have experience of the life span of compressed URLs from the various services? (tiny, bit.ly, is.gd, etc.) I know what they promise, but... I may need to use them in txt message replies that visitors can get as a sort of bookmark or aide memoire when taking our new

[MCN-L] Electronic Meetings Skype mcn-l Digest, Vol 45, Issue 6

Hannah: I just gave my first online conference paper through the HandheldConference.org event on June 3, run by Learning Times. My experience of the technology (Adobe Connect) was superb, and I've heard nothing but praise from the attendees, of whom there were over 200. I think this is in no

[MCN-L] Re image 'theft'

Thanks to Matt Morgan for raising the question of who has actually lost revenues from putting images, even high quality ones, online. I share his skepticism that it's actually as big a problem as we fear. I suspect that it will take less effort and fewer resources to deal with the small number of

[MCN-L] Headphone alternatives mcn-l Digest, Vol 42, Issue 28

Beyond most museums' budgets, but these directional speakers are pretty cool: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/woody_norris_invents_amazing_things.html Think Kate Bush, Experiment IV On 3/31/09 4:00 PM, mcn-l-request at mcn.edu mcn-l-request at mcn.edu wrote: Send mcn-l mailing list

[MCN-L] Podcasting mcn-l Digest, Vol 40, Issue 15

Useful tips, Robin, and great questions, Lauren! I like the idea of using a MySpace account for hosting podcasts because I don't think they charge you for data transfer or set limits on it - is that right? In addition to the storage space, every time someone downloads your podcast, there is

[MCN-L] Google Maps and Cultural Heritage

Thanks so much for offering all these examples of map-based initiatives! Great references all. We're working with IMA Lab on an initiative to display a database of 32,000 outdoor sculptures on a Google map of the US, along with user-generated photos of sculptures added to our Save Outdoor