The Mobility Suite mos. enables the development of a wide range of solutions that can be adapted to individual requirements flexibly. This text focuses mainly on the properties and advantages of a museum app and the functions that can be implemented into an app like this.
The advancing digitalization has proven to be extremely beneficial. Due to digital offers, people were able to continue exploring museums and other cultural institutions during COVID-19 lockdown, for example. But digital content can also enrich a visit to the museum when there is no pandemic. For years, museums have utilized digitalization to increase the quality of their offer.
The added value of a museum app
Digital solutions in museums are in no way intended to make a visit to the institution itself redundant. Rather, they are meant to add a new dimension to the visit for multimedia content enables a significantly expanded transfer of information.
Meanwhile, the properties and functions of an application can be adjusted to the respective needs, the structure and the individual exhibition areas of a facility. Due to the variety of options and the flexible nature of an app, appealing content can be created for all target and age groups. This content can also be updated at regular intervals if necessary. Multimedia content can, for example, support impaired people during their visit or encourage the young to actively participate.
The long-term goal of such an offer: increased visitor numbers, more direct interaction with exhibits and an overall higher satisfaction.
In-house technologies and solutions
The Mobility Suite mos. enables the creation of high quality native mobile applications in the shortest possible time. The innovative framework makes it possible to adapt a museum app to individual requirements and wishes.
Our other tools can also be integrated into digital projects. Visitor numbers and visiting times can be managed using the add-on for appointment bookings. Plus, the digital signage add-on can be used to project messages onto every screen. In order to expand the experience, the app can furthermore be connected to a website, interactive stele or print media.
The Mobility Suite mos. was already used to build apps in the field of museums. The World of Leica app, for example, focuses primarily on an interactive, sometimes multi-story terrain map. It also offers additional information on individual locations on the property.
On the other hand, the “Route der Industriekultur” app and website bundle numerous interesting cultural locations from all over the Central Hesse region, thereby creating an open-air museum. Additional information can be called up at selected locations via QR codes. In addition, users can create an individual route of their own choosing within the app. Both apps also provide information on current exhibitions and events at the respective locations and keep users up to date.
Visitors’ smartphones become multimedia museum guides
Flexibility is the greatest strength of an application. Thus, solutions can be found for fundamentally different types of museums or exhibitions. As the Mobility Suite mos. makes it easy to manage and update content without major development skills, those responsible can update the content of the app any time.
For example, diverse and varying digital content can be offered for physically consistent exhibitions. Visual and acoustic effects can also be used to impart knowledge. Since it can be assumed that most visitors have their own smartphone nowadays, there are also no costs for the purchase of loan devices. This enables guests to visit without long waiting times or rental fees. Download and usage statistics provide an additional overview of how well the offer has been accepted.
In addition to the flexibility and the amount of information that can be conveyed, another great advantage of native applications for museums is that they can be used at all times, independently and to an unlimited extent. For an offline use of the app, content can be offered for download.
Users are also not bound by opening hours or an internet connection in public exhibitions and can plan their visit independently. Furthermore, an interactive app encourages visitors to actively participate and interact with exhibits. Moreover, historical knowledge can be presented in a completely new way.
The possibilities of museum apps concerning navigation
A feature that can be particularly helpful in the context of museums is the provision of a navigation function via an app. Regardless of the way in which this feature is implemented, a digital visitor guidance system enables guests to visit the museum mostly independently. Visitors can go on a discovery tour and create their own route that suits their interests. A clear and easy-to-use interactive map of the site provides guests with the necessary overview of what the facility has to offer.
On the other hand, museums have the opportunity to offer diverse tours. Those tours can be adapted to different target groups or subject areas, which can be further supported by audiovisual media. Navigating audio tours are a very popular tool for the exploration of exhibitions as well.
Using a virtual walkthrough or a 360° view of exhibition rooms, guests can get an idea of what the museum has to offer before they even visit. Moreover, the display of one’s own location on an interactive terrain map can also help visitors find their way around. The possibilities in the area of navigation are vast and allow an autonomous, informative and satisfactory visit.
The possibilites of museum apps concerning exhibition and interaction
Another attractive feature would be the digitization of exhibitions. That way, they can be completely redesigned and expanded using any desired amount of background information. The provision of additional information and a new and exciting approach to individual exhibits can change the overall perception of a collection.
In addition to the exhibition items on site, an application can be used to provide valuable information. This can be about the items themselves, historical events, or artists, for example. One possibility to execute this is via a QR code scanner embedded in the app. The integration of photos, videos or simulations can additionally support the transfer of knowledge and deposit stories attached to individual exhibits.
Furthermore, an app can also allow guests to manually control movable exhibits. Connecting the native application to interactive steles or virtual and augmented reality is also conceivable. Plus, data sheets on specific subject areas of the museum can also be offered for download. That way, visitors can reread the information of interest to them at home. Granting guests access to an exhibition archive integrated into the museum app also provides them with the opportunity to look at their favorite exhibits beyond the end of an exhibition.
The possibilities of museum apps concerning communication
A museum app can also create new opportunities in the field of communication. In order to ensure the greatest possible satisfaction of the guests, a feedback option can be integrated into the app.
For instance, visitors can write down their thoughts on the museum offer in a digital guest book. Using this guest book, interested parties can get an idea on what to expect before they actually visit the museum.
A connection to the institution’s social media channels or the possibility of sharing individual content with others via those channels is also a welcome option. In addition, push notifications can be used to inform visitors about nearby or recommended exhibits. That way, institutions are also able to share important information about upcoming events or interesting general news with its guests.
The diversity of museum apps concerning gamification
The future of learning is digital. Thus, it makes sense to offer museal content in a playful way as well. Gamification has developed into a major trend in museums and other cultural institutions in recent years. The aim of this approach is to make the transfer of knowledge in non-game contexts more interesting through playful content. That way, motivation to engage with museal collections can be increased.
Playful content can be implemented, for example, in the form of puzzles, task games or a scavenger hunt through the museum. The offer can be designed in a way that is appealing to both younger guests and adults. Variety can be guaranteed by providing the possibility of choosing different characters. Each of them can then set a different course of the game in motion. QR codes can also be used in this context to make the games accessible quickly. A small reward upon completion lets children think back to their museum visit with joy.
The diversity of museum apps concerning accessibility
Another focus can be placed on digital content that enables participation and accessibility for digitization makes museums and other cultural institutions accessible in a new way. As they are tourist locations, multilingual content is a particularly important feature. The more languages are offered in the app, the more international guests can take part in the exhibition. However, other, smaller functions can also make people’s visit noticeably more pleasant and informative.
A case in point is the possibility to change the font size, which can make it a lot easier for visually impaired people to use the app. Subtitles in videos or transcripts of acoustic content enable additional participation for the deaf. Moreover, sign language can be added to videos in order to help people with hearing impairment explore the museum’s content while audio tours can help those with reading impairments understand. Using simple and easy-to-read language makes it easier to convey information to people with intellectual disabilities. Evidently, there are numerous ways to make a museum app accessible and as barrier-free as possible.
Service and other functions
Visitors can also personalize the app as they wish with the help of other functions. For instance, a favorites list or bookmarks enable them to save interesting content for later. This increases the chance that visitors will deal with the content of an exhibition even after their visit.
Furthermore, an event area can provide information on current events and the shows of the day or week. A museum app can also organize the appointment allocation and ticket sales automatically. Plus, a service area with information on opening times, directions and parking facilities bundles everything guests need to know prior to visiting. Comprehensible operating instructions for the app and a note to bring your own headphones round off the digital offering.
Financing options for museum apps
A fully functional app is an investment in the future of the institution. Plus, there are numerous refinancing and funding options, for instance subsidies from the state and the EU in the field of digitization. Also, cities, municipalities, numerous associations and other foundations offer additional support in this area. Integrating a donation platform into the app, through which exclusive content is activated, is another possibility. A fee-based installation of links to the gastronomy and hotel industry of the region is an additional financing option.
On a side note, a native application not only represents an investment in the future of the company, but also in the future of the planet. The digitization of museum content can save a considerable amount of raw materials such as paper. Thus, a museum app also contributes to the sustainability of the cultural institution.