The ArtStart kiosk system at the National Gallery (NG), London is an example of the use of technology in heritage institutions to broaden access and deliver new experience of culture to visitors. In a workshop delivered by Andrew Doran, NG Information Systems), three themes stood out (1) commercial sponsorship making available the best technology otherwise unaffordable to public institutions (2) popularity of the system to different audiences and (3) atmosphere/contexts of viewing. ArtStart combines library services of indexing, retrieval and access with a curatorial function of contextualised pathways through the material. The system is complete in that it contains digital images of the entire NG collection of 2,300. It is also self-contained in that it is not connected to the main NG image database or networked for example via the internet. One question is whether the system is scalable or extensible to other contexts.
Colin White, Head of Photography at the National began by giving us an overview of the photographic process.
Technology – Digitising the image
Photographing the collection at the NG is an entirely digital process. 100 MB pixel cameras produce an image of 100,000 pixels archive file in RAW format that is compressed to other formats, TIFF and JPEG, for distribution. The original RAW format is calibrated to achieve an exact digital replica although some image processing may occur on other formats for colour correction or enhancing the image. The outlets for digital images include the NG commercial picture library, exhibition material, press and communication, the NG website, and the NG intranet where staff can access them through an internal network for research or to display on their desktops as screensavers – but the principle beneficiary is the ArtStart programme.
Digital photographic technology is also important in scientific research. Digital infrared scanners have been used to explore the structure of an image non-invasively, leading to new insights and techniques (National Gallery Discovers New Leonardo) for art history and restoration work. This leading edge type of technology is possible because companies like Hewlett Packard a long term partner of the gallery are willing to invest expertise and financing to push the boundaries of the possible. Colin White described the stages of digital in the gallery as first for reasons of archiving and cataloguing, secondly access, and the third would surely include transforming how we look at and understand art.
Technology – Art Start
I was particularly curious about the technology because I was involved in pilot multimedia kiosks (2000-4) for the British Film Institute and was keen to see how the technology had developed.
images above: bfionline upright kiosk (2000-2002) – 40 GB hard drive holds 40 hours of audio visual material. Users interact via ‘traditional’ computer devices – a keyboard and tracker ball combined with 14” screen display. micro gallery, National Gallery 1991-2005
Artstart manufactured by Gallery Products Engineering Limited contains the entire digitised collection of the National Gallery on less than 10 GB hard drive storage. A flexible, lightweight system it has a touch screen interface utilising ‘surface acoustic wave’ technology. £500,000 funding was provided by American Express and Hewlett Packard (HP) supplied the equipment.
ArtStart replaced the micro gallery system (1991-2005) (National Gallery Unveils ArtStart, Feb 2005). Given the speed of technological innovation, Andrew Doran wondered how much longer it would survive. At the moment it’s hard to see what the next evolution would look like. The ‘wow’ factor for visitors is the zoom feature which allows you pick out fine image detail, the petal structure say of Van Gogh’s sunflowers. He was quite clear that it is not a substitute for the ‘real’, for example the visitor loses the perspective of the size of the canvas and the intangible experience of seeing an original work of art on a gallery wall. However the personal, user driven discoveries offered by ArtStart is also unique and the user can print selections for free that includes directions to the actual pictures in the gallery.
If they were designing a future system, Doran says that they would pay more attention to the audio features, such as the design of the speakers and cradles and whether they would have audio at all. Spillages, this ArtStart gallery is located in the Espresso Bar, has affected the audio handsets but they are inexpensive to replace. A bigger issue is managing user expectations. Not all images pages include audio files.
If they don’t here anything when they pick up the handset, they assume it is broken. We had to add a voice introduction to the main pages for this very reason” Doran
Audio might be a way of extending the content and the audience though obviously one must think about whether this might distract other users or be inaccessible to users who cannot hold the handset or who are hearing impaired. Another usability problem is that while the system is very responsive there is no perceptual feedback from buttons. The interface buttons of the National Gallery system affords this type of simple user feedback.
Screens from Artstart. Updated features include A-Z index and a visual browser with random shuffle.
Screen from National Portrait Gallery’s Woodward Portrait Explorer kiosk. Christine Keiler page allows user to view photographs from the original shoot by the photographer Lewis Morley.
Extending the Audience
The ArtStart has been installed in the international terminal at St Pancras station – the design reflects the context of use. It is a cut-down version, with only 100 paintings from the collection grouped according to a small number of themes. At St. Pancras the system is set into tables. Behind each table are large, wall-mounted LCD displays making the user’s choices visible to passers-by. The Eurostar system also includes email functionality and the ability to send e-cards – features I am sure that would be very popular at Trafalgar Square.
These innovative systems demonstrate the ability of technology to attract audiences to cultural heritage. In the future NG might consider extending the system into other contexts, like the BFI is doing opening mediatheques around the country or integrating the system into NG networks and databases which would make it easier to update and more flexible.
State of the art? BFI mediatheque opened April 2007. It also uses HP technology. The next mediatheque will open in Derby at the QUAD centre in late 2008
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Definitions
Kiosk - an electronic device that provides information (via a display), is interactive in nature (a multimedia combination), and allows for input (via an input device such as a touchscreen or a keyboard). The kiosk is unique from a standard pc as it is created for a specific user and specific purpose and is owned, controlled, and operated by the deployer.
digital signage today
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Tags: art collections, artstart, digital culture, national gallery, technology
