Comments on: Suggested Reading: Required Thinking http://musematic.net/2008/10/16/suggested-reading-required-thinking/ Rants and raves on the latest trends in the world of museum informatics and technology. An intrepid cast of experts from the Museum Computer Network and AAM's Media & Technology Committee share their insights, observations and tricks of the trade. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:42:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: james Shamenski http://musematic.net/2008/10/16/suggested-reading-required-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-11147 james Shamenski Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:04:36 +0000 http://musematic.net/?p=518#comment-11147 This was a good quick read. The article outlines three main issues behind universal access; 1. Adopting new technology is not fun. 2. Merging artifact descriptions is not fun. 3. institutions don't want everyone to play with their toys. Generally speaking, I believe that museums resemble Britanica and need help participating in relevant ways within our moderning society. If universal access is done hastily, then we will see an effect similar to craigslist cannibalizing newspapers. Universal access must be modeled after what works for the traditional arts world. Then museums will manifest increases in global public interest by demonstrating leadership as we mature into the information age. I've been working on answering the universal access dilemma and welcome more conversation on this topic. There's lots to talk about here with progressive laws being passed, technology interaction is blossoming and real outside examples of open standards enhancing markets. Cheers, James {at} universalarchive dot org This was a good quick read. The article outlines three main issues behind universal access;
1. Adopting new technology is not fun.
2. Merging artifact descriptions is not fun.
3. institutions don’t want everyone to play with their toys.

Generally speaking, I believe that museums resemble Britanica and need help participating in relevant ways within our moderning society. If universal access is done hastily, then we will see an effect similar to craigslist cannibalizing newspapers. Universal access must be modeled after what works for the traditional arts world. Then museums will manifest increases in global public interest by demonstrating leadership as we mature into the information age.

I’ve been working on answering the universal access dilemma and welcome more conversation on this topic. There’s lots to talk about here with progressive laws being passed, technology interaction is blossoming and real outside examples of open standards enhancing markets.
Cheers,
James {at} universalarchive dot org

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