Whilst there are plenty of growth markets in the digital age, few are as expansive as the Internet-of-Things (IoT). Make no mistake; this space is growing at an exponential rate, peaking at $151 billion in 2018 and expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 30% during the next 4 years.
At the heart of this growth is the diversification of IoT technology, which is now revolutonising the real estate sector and delivering innovations that optimise building performance, realise cost-efficiencies and even enhance the user experience.
The latter point is particularly important, as it has laid the foundation for so-called ‘smart museums’ and interactive learning hubs. But what is it a smart museum, and how does it provide a practical application for IoT technology?
What is a Smart Museum?
Over the years, we’ve seen digital technology become increasingly pervasive in gallery spaces, particularly in the world’s leading museums.
A smart museum simply takes this evolution onto an entirely new level, by creating a greater sense of digital interactivity and developing immersive environment that incorporates wearable, analytical and portible technologies.
Make no mistake; a smart museum tackles many of the issues synonymous with bricks-and-mortar establishments, which are restricted by geographical location, fixed opening hours and a lack of opportunity for genuine interaction between visitors and artefacts.
So, by creating a digital-led infrastructure and drawing on IoT platforms that allow for seamless and remote asset management, smart museums can revolutionise this space and elevate learning onto an entirely different level going forward.
What Technologies Are Included in a Smart Museum?
So, what technology can bring the concept of a smart museum to life? In truth there are several, with relevant innovations proving impactful at almost every conceivable stage of the visitor’s journey.
Take sensor and facial recognition technology, which has the potential to collate accurate data sets pertaining to different audiences whilst also helping to create insightful attendee profiles.
In terms of the former, sensors will be able capture and measure the performance of particular artefacts, based primarily on the level of attention that they receive. This lets museum owners determine which pieces or collections are their most popular, providing some insight on the layout that they choose and any future purchases.
On a similar note, facial recognition technology has evolved to the point where it can accurately measure visitor interaction. So, by installing a camera above each piece of art or artefact, owners can analyse facial expressions and capture a wide range of data sets.
This information can then be used to create bespoke and customisable visitor profiles, which in turns means that experiences can be tailored to suit alternative graphics.
Exploring More Functional Technologies
If we delve beyond these headline technologies, we see a host of other systems and measures that can be used to bring smart museums to life.
Take laserliners, for example, which are incredibly accurate measurement tools that can create the optimal difference between pictures in any given gallery. Available through suppliers such as RS Components, these high-end laser levels serve an exceptional attention to detail and can contribute to an improved visitor experience.
Ultimately, there’s little doubt that smart museums represent the learning opportunities of the future, as the IoT continues to revolutionise the world and the physical structures around us.