Museums are information hubs. The challenge? Creating experiences that captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.
Entire generations are growing accustomed to seeking information online. The idea of going to a museum or library to exercise curiosity has become foreign to many.
Digital signage is bringing a modern touch to museums, transforming a traditional space with cutting-edge technology. From interactive exhibits to dynamic wayfinding, its potential is endless. Museum digital signage has many innovative uses.
1. Welcome messaging
Popular museums welcome hundreds, sometimes thousands, of visitors daily, making admissions a challenge. Long queues, diverse languages, and large groups add to the complexity, requiring efficient solutions to keep things running smoothly.
Digital signage for museums brings order to what can be a chaotic process!
Displaying welcome messaging on digital signage screens is an effective way to communicate information like admission pricing and opening hours. There is no better time to promote particular exhibitions than when visitors are waiting in line. Notably, screens are able to display content in multiple languages which is essential when it comes to notices about health and safety.
2. Exhibition video and images
Museum digital signage can be the perfect companion to an exhibition. Often, the most effective exhibitions are those that combine multiple mediums to educate and inform. Today, video is without a doubt our favourite way to consume content.
Implementing screens or even video walls is therefore an engaging way to support a museum display. Young visitors in particular would much rather watch a short video on a subject than read a wall of information. A slideshow of images, even animation, is preferable to static posters that are limited by space.
3. Interactive learning
Many of us learn best through a hands-on approach. Interactive learning is hugely important for museums, again, especially with younger audiences like those coming on school visits. Digital signage for museums is unparalleled in this function.
Most museums implement some kind of visitor pass. Combining this with RFID tag technology enables visitors to interact with exhibition screens through the increasingly familiar motion of โtappingโ. RFID tags work to trigger content on a screen, allowing presentations to reload/start for new visitors.
A similar technology suited to museums is QR codes. QR codes allow visitors (through their phone camera) to capture content from a screen. Instead of trying to take a picture of the information on an exhibition (or take notes on a school trip), visitors can download content that they can access later.
Finally, many museums are deploying screens with integrated cameras to entertain audiences. Taking photos of exhibitions has been popular since the advent of the camera.
Digital signage for museums opens up countless possibilities on this front. Filters on a screen allow visitors to pose, for example, in period dress. A natural history museum might invite visitors to pose with dinosaurs and so on. Digital signage for heritage exhibits can also help to increase interest. Installing a camera feature at an exhibition helps to create a buzz and gives people a great memento to go home with.
4. Wayfinding assistance
Museum digital signage can serve an important wayfinding function. Getting lost in a museum or not being able to find the exhibition you came to see can detract from a visitorโs experience. A network of screens can be used to offer directions to different exhibitions, this is particularly valuable for sites spanning multiple floors. Digital signage further helps with crowd control as flows can be controlled by changing where screens direct visitors. Touchscreen wayfinding kiosks add a search function where users can receive tailored directions to the exhibits they wish to see.
5. Visitor analytics
Linked to the aforementioned interactive qualities of digital signage for museums is visitor analytics. Recording admission numbers is a high priority for museums. Beyond counting visitors at the entrance, measuring engagement and gathering meaningful data has traditionally been a challenge.
With RFID-enabled visitor passes, museums can track footfall across different areas and monitor engagement with specific exhibits, including interactive ones. This data is invaluable for enhancing the visitor experience and optimising museum layouts.
What is digital signage?
What is digital signage? It refers to the use of digital displays to replace physical signs. Modern displays can create immersive experiences by delivering dynamic content. You can use digital signs to engage patrons, provide information about exhibits or even offer directions to help people navigate your museum.
Why you need great digital signage hardware and software
Digital signage software is what powers displays and touchscreens. You need high-quality software to manage the content for your displays, create engaging visuals and provide an interactive experience for museum guests. The best solutions make content management easy and provide a platform to create and use visual assets.
Digital signage hardware is equally important. Your hardware offers dynamic experiences that enhance your exhibits. For example, you could install touchscreen signs on the walls of a gallery to deliver interactive educational content. High-quality touchscreens and displays ensure that your visual assets resonate with visitors.
How gallery digital signage benefits museums
You can use digital signs in many ways.
Boost exhibit engagement
Digital signs are great tools for creating immersive exhibits. You can share educational information about a gallery, inform patrons about the history behind a piece of art or generate buzz about upcoming free events and important days on the monthly museum calendar.
Simplify gallery management
Gallery digital signage does more than enhance exhibits and engage patrons. These signs are also great tools for event management.
For instance, you can use digital signs to notify guests about important start times during free events, encourage them to check out unique art pieces that are on display for a limited number of days and provide detailed information about an exhibit.
Provide dynamic experiences
Paper signs and pamphlets donโt engage or immerse patrons as well as digital media. Every time someone looks down to read a pamphlet, they are taken out of the moment.
Digital signs allow you to seamlessly combine dynamic media with timeless art. You can create modern journeys that integrate free educational media with displays and galleries to provide an unforgettable, educational experience.
Simplify the patron journey
Modern signage simplifies the patron journey, especially during big events and high-volume days. Immersive signage helps visitors find their way around your building, which means they can spend more of their time enjoying all of your exhibits.
Discover our digital signage solutions
Are you ready to enhance the patron journey? TrouDigital can help. Our experts are ready to unlock the power of digital signage for your museum.
Visit our Features page.
Why not get in touch to find out more?
Call โ 02380 981110 or Email Us โ info@troudigital.com
