Forwarded on behalf of Ian Russel:
Could you possibly forward this message to the current PDA discussion
thread in PSCI-COM? I'm away from base, using a web-based email server that
PSCI-COM doesn't recognise.
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PDA systems in hands on centres have obvious drawbacks in terms of high
cost and also the problem of keeping hands and eyes (and minds) free for
exhibit interaction.
However awesome the tecnology now at the disposal of science centre
designers, it's still how we apply it that counts. The great temptation
with such powerful information technology is for us to use it principally
to communicate information.
Crucially important repeat visits do not depend on visitors being treated
as empty vessels or dry sponges, thirsty to soak up information. Like all
new technology, this has great potential for evil as well as for good.
The big challenge for human science centre 'explainers' (who should never
be called this) is to learn how to avoid visitors looking at them, rather
than at the exhibit. The same applies to science centre PDA systems.
One key solution is to enhance observation, thinking and peer-discussion by
means of precision-guided, open questions, precisely formulated to match
the aptitudes, interests and prior experiences of the visitor. I believe
this is an excellent and proper use of information technology.
So far, the best exponents of the art of visitor-empowerment seem to be
grandmothers accompanying young children. I believe we are not far from
being able to produce the world's first electronic granny. This will be a
truly awesome development. We have the technology.
Ian Russell
[log in to unmask]
www.interactives.co.uk
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