In recent decades, immersive digital technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and projection mapping have become a prominent part of the museum experience. In the early 2000s, some contended that the adoption of these technologies was essential to the industry’s future competitiveness. Since then, studies have shown that digitally immersive exhibits can have a positive impact on museum learning, and with this, these exhibits have become “a big trend.”

Science museums have been especially ardent adopters of immersive digital technologies. Despite this, little is known about what science museum professionals are looking for in these technologies. To support the development of digitally immersive experiences that are responsive to their needs, concerns, and expectations, we spoke with 16 science museum professionals at a range of institutions all across the country.

What Did We Find?

The science museum professionals we interviewed said that when considering the adoption of immersive digital exhibits, they think about three things: their museums’ learning goals, the interests of their visitors, and their own operational needs.

Learning Goals

Instead of making technology the focal point of their exhibits, interviewees saw this as a tool to support STEM learning. Uninterested in “technology for technology’s sake,” when contemplating new experiences, they first think about the content they want to create and the learning goals they want to achieve. The value of immersive digital technologies, interviewees agreed, lies in the way they promote STEM learning through awe-inspiring, interactive, emotionally engaging experiences that spark curiosity and a desire for knowledge.

Visitor Interests

Interviewees said they prioritize digitally immersive exhibits that create positive experiences for visitors. Of chief importance to them are exhibits that promote social interaction and offer unique experiences. They also noted the importance of experiences that are accessible to people of various ages, different abilities / disabilities, and varying levels of STEM knowledge. Given these priorities, interviewees indicated that immersive digital technologies are most effective when they are multisensory, interactive, and self-controlled.

Operational Needs

Interviewees highlighted the need for digital immersive exhibits that acknowledge their operational realities. Before deciding to invest in expensive digital technologies, the science museum professionals we spoke with said they need to be certain that these technologies have significant staying power, that they can be repaired by on-site staff when damage or malfunctions occur, that they can be leased to other museums without the need for modifications, and that they do not require the hiring of additional staff to provide instructions to visitors, monitor admittance, or clean equipment.

Let’s Put it to Work!

Immersive digital technologies offer science museums a way to expand their offerings and engage audiences through inspiring, interactive, thought-provoking learning experiences. Fully aware of this, the science museum professionals we spoke with are continually assessing the extent to which these technologies can help them create more impactful and joyful visitor experiences. However, while willing to experiment with new technologies as they emerge on the market, interviewees indicated that they are unlikely to adopt these technologies unless they can be used to facilitate STEM learning, provide their audiences with unique and accessible social experiences, and to support efficient museum operations.

By attending to these three concerns, product designers can both increase the likelihood that their immersive digital exhibits are adopted in science museums and ensure that current and future museum audiences are having positive STEM learning experiences.

About this Article

The contents of this article were produced for TERC as part of a research project funded through the National Science Foundation under Award #DRL-2005447. The authors of this report are the project’s independent external evaluators and are solely responsible for its content.

Photo by Lucrezia Carnelos @ Unsplash