As publicized on the exhibition web site and in IMA’s Previews Magazine, we will be offering an iPod Touch driven multimedia tour of our exhibition, Sacred Spain, called “TAP into Sacred Spain”. The software development side of TAP is mostly complete. Now the work primarily lies in the hands of the content creators. TAP’s software design is somewhat interesting in itself. The content creators actually manage the tour content in a Drupal powered web site. We can export the tour and all associated media from the site as a plugin for the iPhone application. We developed an XMLSchema, TourML (pronouced “turmoil”), in which we conform to. The Dallas Museum of Art is actually using the same format to drive a tour that is not a native iPhone app, but rather a mobile aware web site. They have an excellent video podcast which describes this. You can find out more about this collaboration and more by visiting the MuseumMobile Wiki.
I’m going to let the images do most the talking, but please note that none of the design or content is completely finalized below.
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- Conceptual sketches of TAP
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- TAP Splash Screen
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- Portrait view of the keypad
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- Landscape view of the keypad
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- Portrait view of a tour stop
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- Landscape view of a tour stop
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- Portrait view of hi-res image
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- Landscape view of high-res image
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- Sample video content
Filed under: Exhibitions, New Media, Technology
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I was wondering how many people have actually downloaded the application? Has it been effective with connecting your visitors with the exhibit?
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
TAP is not distributed through the app store. We rent devices for $5 in the exhibition. We will share the uptake numbers at the end of the exhibition.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
It’s a shame the app isn’t available in the AppStore. I would have gladly bought a copy to support the museum.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Justin, thanks for the words of (potential) support. TAP weighs in at 1GB right now. We had thought of streaming all content to the iPod’s in the gallery, but we just didn’t want to risk a bad experience due to flaky wireless. There was also the potential of 60 iPods trying to pull video from a single WAP. As a paid experience for this exhibition it just made sense to do an Ad-Hoc distribution of the app.
Moving ahead, I think an AppStore option for our permanent galleries would be ideal. Updating the application for changes in the permanent galleries just wouldn’t be feasible.
October 17th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Was wondering if you were still going to do iTunes app. If not an app, then maybe a more in depth mobile web page of ALL the IMA has to offer? Bm3hammond@aol.com
October 18th, 2010 at 8:18 am
KC,
Yes! We are currently pursuing funding to build mobile web app coverage of the permanent collection. We don’t have wifi throughout the galleries yet, so this is part of the hurdle.
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