Re-tracing the Past: Mixing Realities in Museum Settings

Interactive exhibits are now commonplace in museum\nsettings. However, many technologies co-exist uneasily\nwith more traditional methods of display. In this paper we\ndescribe a design strategy for mixing realities in museum\nspaces. An approach is adopted for developing `interactives'\nwhich complement rather than replace conventional\nmethods. Our approach is explored through an exhibition\nwhich provides visitors with the opportunity to hear and\nleave opinions on unclassified historical artefacts. An\nanalysis of visitor interaction reveals that avoiding\nsimulation of established methods can allow visitors to\nweave novel and traditional practices. These results indicate\ndesigns for mixing realities in broader settings.