In these challenging times, one of the prototypes we’ve developed on past projects has risen to the fore — the ability for users to record and submit stories from their own smartphones at home via invitation by email and social media. The result: museums, libraries, universities and other organizations can continue their story gathering missions using our cloud based content management system to manage the process. Documenting...

We’re excited to announce a new prototype we’ve developed: an Augmented Reality application where visitors’ stories become embedded throughout a community. People often ask: “What can you do with stories after you’ve recorded them in exhibits?” We’ve been happy to provide a number of ways that extend the reach of exhibits: 1) share them on the museum’s social media feed, 2) incorporate them in a...

Had the pleasure of updating one of our longstanding interactives, developed with Northern Light Productions, for the National Archives in DC this past week.  “The Constitution in Action” is an hour long simulation/game in which students in schoolgroups take on the role of researchers looking for documents to support an urgent mission from the White House Communications Director, “Bob.”  Students work in groups to find...

I was reminded today by Susie Wilkening’s article on long-term memories of exhibits (in ASTC Dimensions) of an exhibit that made me cry. I tried to hide it, but there I was, huge lump in the throat, eyes saturated, ready to spill it. It was in the Center for Civil Rights and Human Rights in Atlanta (and I’m hearing a lot of other museum people describe the same thing). If you’ve been there, you know the exhibit I’m...

It’s been a couple days since the energizing AASLH conference in St. Paul, and now, while I’m pulled over at a truck stop on my long drive back to the airport, seems like as good a time as any to organize my thoughts… What themes did I pick up on?  First, the rise of popup exhibits and events. Michelle Moon invited me (or maybe I invited myself?) to do a popup presentation on popup exhibits together. (Yes, “meta”)....

Here’s the idea: invite people to Providence’s awesome bar/restaurant/nonprofit gallery, AS220, and give them a space to sit down, have a beer or glass of wine, and make puppets based on popular Providence museum exhibits. This year — the 2nd Annual Museum Puppet Throwdown — has a theme: “Puppets for the Planet.”  We’ll be creating spontaneous puppetshows on the theme for upload to YouTube via...