Modern Wing Technology

When you walk into the Modern Wing of the Art Institute there are video screens immediately to your right and left, flashing information about exhibitions, staff guided tours, audio tours, podcasts, and the new education center. After you pass the entrance there is an information desk with another screen flashing the same information. At the desk there are paper guide books and framed maps, as well as information on how to get the audio guide to either the Cy Twombley or Japanese screen exhibitions or with podcasts that can also we heard on the museum's website. I felt that the podcasts are more useful to hear before you come to the museum, especially if you don't want to pay for the audio guides. Also, it was not made very clear that the audio guides had podcasts and I only found this out by watching the big screens. A woman was standing at the desk as well giving information to visitors and answering questions, many people approached her as I walked into the museum and she seemed very helpful.

After the entrance, however, less information is provided by technology. There are various signs about what each gallery houses, but no more video screens. Only on the second floor was there a touch screen that tells visitors where everything is including restrooms, restaurants, schedules, and artwork. Since there is only one touch screen people had to wait their turn to use it and it seems much easier to ask a guard or to look at a paper map, which is what I noticed most people doing. I think the museum should at least place these touch screens in more accessible areas, such as right after you hand your ticket to a guard or right in front of the staircases because right now it is very easy to walk right past them.

When I walked to the Education Center there were actually two more touch screens, which are extremely helpful, but these were hidden off to the side and only visible if you are planning on walking into the education center, or if you ask someone about them. The center is very beautiful and there are so many resources for teachers and librarians and other types of educators, and there seems to be a lot of space for programs to take place. I was welcomed into the resource area, noticed computers and books, and took an educators' guide. When I was there the education center was pretty empty until a group of older women came through who were taking part in docent training.

I then walked into the old building of the museum because I hadn't walked through it in awhile, and I noticed how there is no sign of technology. Only in the Michigan Avenue entrance was there one information screen at the ticket booth and one touch screen right by the big staircase.

When I walked downstairs the children area was a lot more inviting than the one in the Modern Wing, I felt. Activities were out in the open and interactive. There were three computers for kids to use to play interactive games relating to art. There were drawing activities and places for kids to read books and touch sculptures. The Modern Wing children's area was sealed off in a separate space, and while the things on the inside are probably very nice, it did not feel as welcoming as the older education center. I wonder if the museum plans to keep both education areas in the future, or if they will integrate the older one with the newer one.

I think the museum should make better use of the technology it already has, but I also think that many people like to walk into a museum, pick up a paper guide/map, ask guards questions, and then explore the space. Maybe they prefer this because it is all they know and more comfortable than new technology. I think it would be interesting if there were a way to have an interactive map that could be downloaded to iphones or ipods that visitors could use as they walk around, instead of paper and instead of searching for the touch screens. Or audio tours and podcasts should be downloadable to itunes and then visitors can bring their ipods to the museum and already have the tours and lectures with them. This would make the information much more accessible and available.