Examining the Potential and Shortcomings of Digital Applications in Cultural Heritage

Nowadays new technologies are being used by anincreasing number of museums and cultural organisations to supportcommunication with the public and to make the experience of the visitmore constructive and entertaining. However, very few technologicalapplications recognise that most people visit museums in groups (withtheir family, school or other educational organisation, organisedtourist group, friends, etc). Over the last few years research studiesand museological theories have stressed that the social dimension of the visit is extremely important and affects to a great extent what each person will gain from her visit. Nevertheless, there are fewtechnological tools which support this function and which allowvisitors to communicate with each other and not be isolated in front of a computer screen. The paper examines different ICT applications inexhibitions, from information kiosks to hand-held mobile computers.It analyses the possibilities that each tool offers, but also the issuesthat it raises. Finally, it concludes with a series of recommendations which should be taken into account when examining the option of using new technologies in exhibitions, but also during the design stage