The Archive Cloud: Simultaneous Cross-Archive Access via the “Cloud”
An alternative to the current paradigm of archival access would be…...
This brings all collections to the user. By pushing digitized objects to an “archive cloud”
limitations can be lessened or lifted.
Physical interactive interfaces linked to the cloud allow for access to more than one collection
simultaneously, while still using physical objects and gestures in real spaces. This is more
helpful than a browser interface by letting the user interact as they normally would physically
with real tangible artifacts.
This experience does not exist now. Access to multiple disparate collections can only be done in
a virtual way, and my prototypes look to open a dialogue about what new points of access and
affordances we should think about for this future model.
Many museums use a wunderkammer presentation model when exhibiting collections.
Affordances of such exhibits limits the audience to physical location as well as limited
relationships between displayed objects. (I need a transition sentence here…)
Virtual curation on the fly and serendipity in search—two things you can’t experience now at
archives. I’m extending this by designing for a future system with explorative interfaces to access
many collections simultaneously. These interfaces act as entry points to address issues
surrounding:
—Archive Access: Bridging multiple disparate collections; Closed vs open collections;
Qualifications which includes things like location, status, credentials, and research intent.
—Research
-contemporary perspectives on knowledge development
-curation of disparate collections with relating objects
-makes it easier to excavate sideways culturally instead of just going deep on one topic.
—Interface
-Virtual info with physical place is helpful
-scale of digitized objects can’t necessarily best fit in all-in-one interface.
-physical objects with virtual
—Role of the archivist
-Much knowledge can be stored in metadata, but even greater contextual knowledge is
retained by the archivist. They know their collections. They know what they have AND what is
missing.
-The experience of researching and accessing objects can be altered by a anecdote or
information shared by the archivist.
(needs to be condensed)
