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Emerging Exhibits: Exploring New Models of Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

This fall I will be teaching a course on exhibit development for the Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria. The course will be held in Vancouver at the Museum of Vancouver from September 26 -28. There is an online component that begins earlier in September.

I will of course show some examples from Open Exhibits, but the course will look broadly at developments in the field.

You can learn more about, Emerging Exhibits: Exploring New Models of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and register on the UVIC Website. Here’s a short description of the course:

Computer-based interactive exhibits are undergoing a major transformation. The lone, single-user kiosk is beginning to be replaced by multitouch tables and walls, motion-sensing spaces, networked installations, and RFID-based exhibits. Advances in augmented reality, voice recognition, eye tracking, and other technologies promise even more radical change for exhibits in the near future.

Collectively these new technologies represent a fundamental advance in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). This course will look at a new generation of computer-based exhibits that are more physical, more intuitive, and have more social qualities than their predecessors.

For decades, museum and education professionals have understood that interesting and provocative exhibitions and exhibits can encourage dialogue and deepen the visitor experience. However, until recently, the vast majority of the computer-based exhibits have been information-heavy kiosks with limited interactivity, providing only solitary experiences for visitors. The new models for HCI provide us with opportunities to rethink how technology is used in museums and other public spaces. Computer technology is on the cusp of finally living up to its promise in the museum world, providing a platform for developing compelling and authentic experiences for the public.