Mapping a route through the tech world

Let's face it, there's an awful lot of technology out there.  There are devices and applications and tools that give us a dizzying number of ways to connect, share, and create information.  As emerging museum professionals, we will be part of the sea-change that museums are currently experiencing; some welcome technology, some fight it, some don't know what to do with it.  

To start off this project, we decided to organize our brains by drawing up a map of what's out there and how we can categorize it in terms of museum applications.  We ended up with two broad categories, which overlap somewhat: user-generated and institution-generated.

Alongside that grouping, we noticed that these various tools were either one-way or multi-way.

• One-way channels of information take content from one entity and broadcast it for public use, but without the option for users to add their own content or responses beyond commenting.  Most things in this category, like websites, mobile apps, and Podcasts, allow information produced by institutions to be consumed by individuals.  A few exceptions, like Yelp, are the opposite: one-way reviews from individuals back to companies.

• Multi-way formats, such as social networking and other information-sharing sites, allow anyone, whether an individual or an institution, to upload and share content.  So a museum can post a tweet about something interesting, and users can respond by commenting, sharing it with their friends, or uploading their own related content.  Likewise, the museums can respond to postings from their followers and users.  

As another interesting framework, we found this set of "social technographics" from Nina Simon's book, The Participatory Museum, which she cited from a 2009 study by Forrester.  Essentially, online web-users fall into these six categories, which overlap:

1. Creators (24%) who produce content, upload videos, write blogs
2. Critics (37%) who submit reviews, rate content, and comment on social media sites
3. Collectors (21%) who organize links and aggregate content for personal or social consumption
4. Joiners (51%) who maintain accounts on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn
5. Spectators (73%) who read blogs, watch YouTube videos, visit social sites
6. Inactives (18%) who don’t visit social sites

In order for museums to effectively use technology, we think it's important to start with an understanding of these statistics.  While there are creators out there who generate original content, there are many more people who comment, organize, and observe what is put out there.  

Going forward in this blog, we will be exploring the technologies laid out in the map pictured above.  In some cases, we will be trying out certain websites or tools for the first time, so we will provide a first-timer's perspective and review, as well as ideas for how the tools could be used by museums (or how it's already being utilized!).  Additionally, we will interview experienced practitioners in the museum-technology field, conduct research, and provide case studies and additional resources.

We welcome any and all feedback, comments, participation, and other things of that sort from you, our readers.