Technology!

                During class last night, I was really intrigued by websites that we learned about such as Zotera, Omeka, and the Ancient Ohio Trails website.  I am somewhat okay with the idea of museums and archives putting some photographs of their collections up, but I am really excited by the idea of experiencing them away from the computer desk. 

                The Ancient Ohio Trails website is the only one that I have looked into so far, and it is awesome.  One of the areas on the website is about Fort Ancient.  At the actual Fort Ancient, visitors can get an introduction at the front desk and as they go through the museum, but the site is incredibly large.  Once they get in their cars to drive through the site a lot of the interpretation is up to them.  However, if they were able to access the internet on their phone, the videos on the website could add to their experience.  If visitors have nothing to compare the site to, then they may have a hard time imagining what went on there 2000 years ago, which is why the videos are valuable.  This website is a huge asset to archaeological parks, because with limited staff it is hard to answer everyone’s questions.  

                Another part of the Ancient Ohio Trails website involves town histories.  For certain towns there are information posts, pictures, and videos.  I found them interesting and sort of fun to watch.  If these programs are out there, then more museums should really get in on them.  It would be really amazing if small museums incorporated websites like this into their programs.  They could advertise them to their visitors.  For instance, if they put information about their community’s history up on the site, people could then take little self guided tours through the city.  The website could mention a specific old factory and talk about the history.  In order to still make a museum visit enticing it, could recommend checking out the original such-and-such from the factory which is now kept at the local museum.  Or it could recommend eating lunch at a certain diner and include quick facts for people to read while they ate.

                A program like this would be great for increasing community involvement.  The places advertized on the program would not have to be the traditional historical destinations.  Diners, for example, that have a lot of local history could be present too.  It would help tourists who come to visit, and would increase residents’ sense of community.  Programs like these advertise the museum’s presence and emphasize the importance to the community.