Home » Posts tagged 'Design Museum'
Tag Archives: Design Museum
Mobile learning at the Museum of London: QR codes and NFCs
Fig.1. YouTube video for the Museum of London‘s NFC initiative in 2011
Having picked through links that came to a dead end in a fascinating paper on the variety of technologies and tactics being used by museums in relation to mobile learning I started to see and read more and more about the use of QR codes (those matrix two-dimensional bar codes you use with a smartphone) and NFC ‘Near Field Communication‘ which is becoming an industry in its own right.
Having been kept awake at night about a need for ‘constructing knowledge’ rather than being fed it I knew that visitors, students especially, need to engage with their surroundings by somehow seeking and constructing their own views.
Without QR and NFC the simplest expression of this is taking notes, and or photographs of exhibits – not just selfies with a mummy or your mates. Possibly doing bits of video. And from these images cutting/editing and pasting a few entries in a blog, Prezi or SlideShare. QR and NFC feed the visitor controlled and curated bite-size nuggets, so more than just a snap shot, you can have audio and video files, as well as more images and text.
Fig.2. South Downs Way QR Code.
Successful trials mean that these have spread. Funny I’ve not noticed them living in Lewes and walking the dog most days on the South Downs. I’ll take a look. NFCs have been used extensively, for 90 exhibits, at the Museum of London – so a visit is required. Though I won’t be ditching my iPhone. Apple does not support NFC believing that the technology is still in its infancy … like Flash, like Betamax and VHS, and all that stuff, a battle will be fought over the NFC benchmark.
So 60% penetration of smartphones in the population … most of all of which can use a QR code, but less using a early version of NFCs. My experience?
Fig.3. QR Codes at the Design Museum
Last year a visit to the Design Museum I found the ‘Visualizing the mind’ exhibition littered with QR codes.
They didn’t work. Just as well they had ample computers. How often do organisations jump on the IT bandwagon only for a couple of wheels to fall off further down the road?
Fig.4. Evie
Meanwhile I’m off to walk the dog .. then using a trip to see Gravity at the Odeon Leicester Square with my kids to include an educational tour to the Museum of London (always handy to have a teenager around when using mobile technology).
REFERENCE
‘REPORTING RESEARCH’ 2013, Interpretation Journal, 18, 1, pp. 4-7, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 10 November 2013.
QR codes and NFC
Fig.1. YouTube video for the Museum of London’s NFC initiative in 2011
Having picked through links that came to a dead end in a fascinating paper on the variety of technologies and tactics being used by museums in relation to mobile learning I started to see and read more and more about the use of QR codes (those matrix two-dimensional barcodes you use with a smartphone) and NFC ‘Near Field Communication’ which is becoming an industry in its own right.
Having been kept awake at night about a need for ‘constructing knowledge’ rather than being fed it I knew that visitors, students especially, need to engage with their surroundings by somehow seeking and constructing their own views.
Without QR and NFC the simplest expression of this is taking notes, and or photographs of exhibits – not just selfies with a mummy or your mates. Possibly doing bits of video. And from these images cutting/editing and pasting a few entries in a blog, Prezi or SlideShare. QR and NFC feed the visitor controlled and curated bite-size nugets, so more than just a snap shot, you can have audio and video files, as well as more images and text.
Fig.2. South Downs Way QR Code.
Successful trials mean that these have spread. Funny I’ve not noticed them living in Lewes and walking the dog most days on the South Downs. I’ll take a look. NFCs have been used extensively, for 90 exhibits, at the Museum of London – so a visit is required. Though I won’t be ditching my iPhone. Apple does not support NFC believing that the technology is still in its infancy … like Flash, like Betamax and VHS, and all that stuff, a battle will be fought over the NFC benchmark.
So 60% penetration of smartphones in the population … most of all of which can use a QR code, but less using a early version of NFCs. My experience?
Fig.3. QR Codes at the Deisgn Museum
Last year a visit to the Design Museum I found the ‘Visualizing the mind’ exhibition littered with QR codes.
They didn’t work. Just as well they had ample computers. How often do organisations jump on the IT bandwagon only for a couple of wheels to fall off further down the road?
Fig.4. Evie
Meanwhile I’m off to walk the dog .. then using a trip to see Gravity at the Odeon Leicester Square with my kids to include an educational tour to the Museum of London (always handy to have a teenager around when using mobile technology).
REFERENCE
‘REPORTING RESEARCH’ 2013, Interpretation Journal, 18, 1, pp. 4-7, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 10 November 2013.
The Digital Brain – envisaged at the Design Museum
Fig. 1. A mash-up in Picasa of a 3D laser generated image generated at the Design Museum during their ‘Digital Crystal’ exhibition.
The image exists and is transformed by the presence of the observer in front of a Kinex device making this a one-off and an expression or interpretation of that exact moment.
‘Working with dreams’ and ‘Keeping a dream journal’ are taught creative problem solving techniques at the Open University Business School. I did B822 ‘Creativity, Innovation and Change’ in 2012 (Henry et al 2010). I have the problem solving toolkit. I even got a hardback copy of VanGundy’s book on creative problem solving.
Using your unconscious isn’t difficult. Just go to bed early with a ‘work’ related book and be prepared to write it down when you stir.
I woke soon after 4.00am.
I’d nodded off between 9.30 and 11.30 so feel I’ve had my sleep.
Virtual bodies for first year medical students to work on, an automated mash-up of your ‘lifelog’ to stimulate new thinking and the traditional class, lecture and university as a hub for millions – for every student you have in a lecture hall you have 1000 online.
Making it happen is another matter.
I’m writing letters and with far greater consideration working on a topic or too for research.
“Nights through dreams tell the myths forgotten by the day.” — C.G. Jung (Memories, Dreams, Reflections)
How to work with a dream or metaphorical image:
- Enter the dream
- Study the dream
- Become the images
- Integrate the viewpoints
- Rework the dream
Appreciating, reflecting, looking forward and emerging
REFERENCE
Glouberman, D. (1989) Life Choices and Life Changes Through Imagework, London, Unwin, pp. 232-6
Henry, J., Mayle, D., Bell, R., Carlisle, Y. Managing Problems Creatively (3rd edn) 2010. The Open University.
Isaacson, W. (2011) Steve Jobs. Little Brown.
VanGundy, A.B. (1988) Techniques of structured problem solving (2nd edn), New York: Van Nostran Reinhold.
Working with dreams : e-learning and the unconscious
Fig. 1. A mash-up in Picasa of a 3D laser generated image generated at the Design Museum during their ‘Digital Crystal’ exhibition.
The image exists and is transformed by the presence of the observer in front of a Kinex device making this a one-off and an expression or interpretation of that exact moment.
‘Working with dreams’ and ‘Keeping a dream journal’ are taught creative problem solving techniques at the Open University Business School. I did B822 ‘Creativity, Innovation and Change’ in 2012 (Henry et al 2010). I have the problem solving toolkit. I even got a hardback copy of VanGundy’s book on creative problem solving.
Using your unconscious isn’t difficult.
Just go to bed early with a ‘work’ related book and be prepared to write it down when you stir.
I woke soon after 4.00am. I’d nodded off between 9.30 and 11.30 so feel I’ve had my sleep.
Virtual bodies for first year medical students to work on, an automated mash-up of your ‘lifelog’ to stimulate new thinking and the traditional class, lecture and university as a hub for millions – for every student you have in a lecture hall you have 1000 online.
Making it happen is quite another matter. So I’m writing letters and with far greater consideration working on a topic or too for research.
“Nights through dreams tell the myths forgotten by the day.” — C.G. Jung (Memories, Dreams, Reflections)
How to work with a dream or metaphorical image:
- Entering the dream
- Studying the dream
- Becoming the images
- Integrating the viewpoints
- Reworking the dream
Appreciating, reflecting, looking forward and emerging
REFERENCE
Glouberman, D. (1989) Life Choices and Life Changes Through Imagework, London, Unwin, pp. 232-6
Henry, J., Mayle, D., Bell, R., Carlisle, Y. Managing Problems Creatively (3rd edn) 2010. The Open University.
Isaacson, W. (2011) Steve Jobs. Little Brown.
VanGundy, A.B. (1988) Techniques of structured problem solving (2nd edn), New York: Van Nostran Reinhold.
Related articles
- The Universal Traveler & Creativity (cinnamonpink.typepad.com)
- Sweating Your Way to Creativity (creativityland.ca)
- Review / Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving (compscigail.blogspot.com)
- Thinking about how I think makes me think that I think too much. (lifehardcore.wordpress.com)
- Back to Basics: What is Dreamwork? (allthesnoozethatsfittoprint.wordpress.com)
Inspiration
Fig.1. Inspiration courtesy of a pad of cartridge paper, the Royal Academy of Arts, designers in residence at the Design Museum, Mirrielees on Story Writing and Robert Gagne‘s ‘The Conditions of Learning’. There’s a guitar by the desk and a set of 6B pencils and a putty rubber out of vision.
For moments when the Muse calls … and when she doesn’t.
The cartridge paper and guitar would be on my Desert Island.
Don’t show me! The importance of expectation ahead of a visit to the Design Museum
Fig.1. Paralympic Racing Wheelchair
Either a clever move or circumstance but I have visited a number of galleries and museums recently with a view to return with that most reluctant of visitor – the teensger. Armed with bumph and photos I thought having spoken to my son about it that he would want to see some of it before going. It wasn’t that he was dismissive, it was more a case that he didn’t want me ro spoil it.
He has a point. In a learning context Gagne would say that the impact of the first encounter or impressions are important. We got around in an hour – last week it took me two. At times some arms physically emerging from the walls to pull him in would have helped – the looped audio commentary on headsets by exhibits, some with others without video worked well. All that was missing would have been dome opportunities to run, lesp, jump etc: againat a stop-watch or tape measure.
What if, like Ikea the journey around the musuem was all oneway so that you had to pass everything? What if using a visor and augmented reality you could peg items againsta familisr walk through your house – to exploit memory techniques.
Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum 2012
Fig.1. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Both would learn from each other if given half a chance.
In swimming we talk about Long Term Athlete Development to differentiate by age and gender from around sge 4/5 to adult competitive swimmers in their 20s. Being a Masters swimmer too I reckon we regress.
What role does context play? I’m sure the 41 year old learns differently at a desk in an office than on an iPad at home.
Mind blowing – things that make you stop and think (then come back for more)
Fig. 1. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Two visits in a week and I’ll be back again next week too. Seeing and stepping into Lawrence Lek’s work is all the more fascinating as the journey of exploration, discovery, experiment and creation is followed in detail. Worth exploring for the person, the artefacts and the process. Worth returning to see the work of five other designer’s in residence. Worth returning for the ‘Digital Memory’ Swarovski Exhibition. Worth returning for gallery on innovations in sport themed largely on the Olympics and Paralympics. Worth returning for lunch and the Design Museum Shop.
Fig. 2. The Rorschach Test used by Lawrence Lek in his designs – at the Design Museum
Fig. 3. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Fig. 4. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Fig. 5. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Fig. 6. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum
Why you need to make time to see and understand ‘digital memory’ at the Design Museum
Fig.1. Enthralled at the Design Museum
Learning, memory and inspiration fascinate me. This exhibition sponsored by Sworovski intrigued me enough online to pay a visit. The online notes and video clips were enough to get me there – the actual experience drew me in. On their own these items that designers created on the theme of ‘digital memory’ may confuse and not draw you in – listen to the designer talk about their experience of dealing with the topic, their journey and inspiration and very quickly a kind of magic takes place – you are let in on their world, you see into their mind, their construction of this piece. Most work, that is something like 11/16 pieces. If I come away from a visit to a gallery or museum and find ONE thing to inspire me I am pleased. Here I felt, eventually, overwhelmed. Rather like the first time I stepped into the Bodleian Library – millions of minds just a fingertip touch away.
Never have I walked through a museum and series of exhibits before and criss-crossed back and forth recording everything. I came away with over 400 pics … all on the iPad. I expect to frame a picture on an A5 sized pad now. And it fits into a bag far more easily than an SLR camera.
I should now create a visual narrative, more Flickr, Tumblr, Instagram or Pinterest than this WordPress layout. No doubt I will in time migrate some of the pictures to all of these platforms where I have a presence as ‘my mind bursts’.
Even the shop deserved a photo journey – though I supposed what I am meant to do is buy stuff. Perhaps we should be able to download eBooks to whatever device we pull out as an alternative to the hard copy?
More, much more to follow
All images in Picasa so could link and share – or spread to my Google+ circles.
The word that tickles the back of my head is ‘augmented learning’.
The Design Museum 2012
Fig.1. Lawrence Lek at the Design Museum, Shad Thames, London.
Seen it once, then again with my 14 year old son – and for a third time with my 16 year old daughter next week. Potentially with other members of our extended family and friends too. I should have bought a season ticket.
The Design Museum is unique – I spent time with EVERY exhibit. I need a couple of hours every day over ten days. That’s how much it resonates with me – the stories, the process, the end result.
There are three galleries:
FIRST FLOOR
Fig.2. Jessica Ennis takes the stairs to the first floor seven at a time
Innovation in Sport – design with a bias towards the Olympics and Paralympics, with Formal 1, Le Mans, hand-gliding, surfind and a few other sports too. Sixteen sports people silhouettes on the walls in the stairwell – how do you physically match up to Jessica Ennis, Messi, Phelps or Sharapova?
SECOND FLOOR
Fig. 3. A 3d rendering of a crystal whose shape is formed by your presence and movement (courtesy of a Konex device and a laser)
Digital Memory – a dozen designers, architects and conceptual artists play with Swarovski crystal to express what memory is. Most mind blowing, all beautifully displayed with headsets explaining what is going on in the artist’s words and other interactive screens – and ‘augmented’ content from wif-fi and 3g.
SECOND FLOOR – SECOND GALLERY
Fig. 4. Yuri Suzuki at the Design Museum
Designers in Residence – six young innovators set a brief, there journey of discovery, experiment and creation lovingly recreated with video, artefacts, audio and displays – and a take-away booklet.
With half-term upon us where do you recommend taking children, young adults and their friends? How does this change if you are their grandparent or parent of a friend? Can you cater for them all? What might it cost?
The cost of getting into the Tower of London made my jaw-drop – £23 for an adult? £55 for a family ticket!! I think I’ll leave it for another 1000 years.
The Wellcome Foundation ‘Super Human’ exhibition and other galleries are free (and lunch is great too).
The Design Museum was £11 for an adult, £7 for a student
Where in the world do you go? We all have our favourites.
Mind Bursts 