Page 233 - AC/E's Digital Culture Annual Report 2015

3. Technology associated with the actual visitMuseums today more than ever are places of learning, spaces in which to share and enjoy unique experiences. Institutions are changing their mindset and their aims include using technology to make the museum a more social and experiential place, meet visitors’ needs and entice them into returning. Therefore innovation in both content and technology can provide them with a major advantage.Institutions are endeavouring to incorporate technological devices into the disseminationof their content in order to create experiential environments that live up to the expectations of today’s visitors. One of the keys lies in getting to know our audiences and their requirements, in order to adapt our offering. The fact is that today we all use various technological devicesin our daily lives and museums must cometo terms with this and incorporate them as effectively and appropriately as possible, aligning their mission with the public’s requirements.The idea is not to replace a visit to the museum’s premises. Far from the initial fear that many museums admitted to harbouring, nowadays it has been proven that these technologies can turn the visit into a surprising experience.Institutions make available to us a series of tools that we can use with our smartphone or tablet, or else we can simply use the devices available in the galleries or hire them from the reception desk. Naturally this is not compulsory. Visitors can choose whether to use them or, on the contrary, carry on with the visit in the tradi- tional manner. It is an extra service designed to make us more interactive and provide us with a greater amount of information and resources to customise our experience and make technology work for our enjoyment.Ever since smartphones and tablets came on sale and began to be part of our lives, apps (applica- tions) have been and continue to be developed