Museum Techmuse

National Scouting Museum: Be Prepared!

Who says that computers lead to sedentary living? I just finished installing a StoryKiosk at the National Scouting Museum (to record visitors' memories of Scouting) during a tornado warning. Museum staff were told they could leave at 2 pm, but on I went, installing the kiosk along with a band of committed staff.  (Actually, I can't think of a better place to be during a tornado warning. The Scouting motto is "Be Prepared!", and the museum reflects that well, with several bathrooms labelled "Severe Weather Shelter". The gift shop has plenty of books on preparedness and weather emergencies.) As I write this, a few hours later, television is running nonstop with the latest weather and info on "storm cells" and "rotational systems". (If you don't see any additional entries to this blog within a few days, please send a rescue team ;-)

MW2007: Audio samples as collections objects

In the opening plenary at Museums and the Web 2007, Brewster Kahle of the Internet Archive made the compelling point that we need as a society to provide "universal access to human knowledge".  (If you've never seen the "wayback machine" on on the site, you'll be amazed to find that your website is cataloged at various several points over a period of years).  But I wasn't aware how many video, audio, and text (book) files they've archived as well.

It reminds me how our own media productions can be considered collections objects. Back in the early 90's, while working on the Teen Tokyo exhibit, I traveled to Tokyo and recorded audio sounds on the subways. The sound of the bells at various stations, train announcements, other incidental sounds. And it struck me at the time how evocative these sounds were, and how much they could be considered "collections objects."

The Trombones of Dupont Circle

I'm in DC now for an installation at the National Archives with Northern Light Productions. This evening walking around Dupont Circle, came across an amazing spectacle that drew quite a crowd -- (the kind of event we hope to happen in museums). Eight trombone players and two drummers were belting out tunes in the heart of the circle. Wall of sound -- and it just kept coming and coming. People are smiling watching them, and I'm smiling and getting choked up by these trombones. It sounds strange I know, but if you're ever in DC and hear the trombones, you'll know what I'm talking about.