Hi
I'm currently working on bringing
MuseoMix<http://www.museomix.com/shropshire-west-midlands-2013/>to the
UK this November and I'll be creating a FabLab within Ironbridge
Gorge Museum so that participants will be able to use it to help create
prototypes, beta new ideas, etc.
As part of the process, we are contemplating building a mini-fab lab within
Enginuity (the design and technology part of Ironbridge) which could then
be used within other communities to share.
Having seen the FabLab uses at MuseoMix in Lyon, France, I can say that
there is a valid reason for museums to research their uses outside of
'printing fun stuff'. Prototypes were created over 3 days which were then
tested by visitors for a week. I believe 3 of the 10 prototypes are now
being produced. The prototype step helped save a lot of money, while still
be able to test new ideas.
Thanks!
--
---
Mar Dixon
Mobile: 07800 539 065
www.mardixon.com :: @mardixon <http://www.twitter.com/mardixon>
On 17 March 2013 13:49, greenland ship <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> Dear all,
>
> Wonder if I can pick your brains.
>
>
> I was just putting material together for the next National Museum
> Directors' Council newsletter (which you too can receive, by signing up in
> the left column here: http://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/) when I came
> across a fascinating report from the American Alliance of Museums on the
> trends which they think are going to be the most groundbreaking over the
> next couple of decades.
>
> The report is here:
> http://aam-us.org/docs/center-for-the-future-of-museums/trendswatch2013.pdf?utm_source=CFM&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=TrendsWatch
>
> From page 13, there's fascinating stuff about 3D printing, which uses a
> variety of organic materials and a bond to create all sorts of spare parts,
> specialised medical support -- and potentially, copies of statues and other
> objects in a museum collection. It offers the possibility that someone
> who'd really liked your Rodin in Room 3 could then nip down the gift shop
> and print off their own scale copy on the way out.
>
> Of course the knack is all in the programming, and apparently at least
> four (unnamed) US museums have already held 'scanathons' or 'hackathons',
> bringing together artists and techies to create blueprints based on museum
> objects.
>
> My questions are:
>
> -- is anyone aware of UK museums experimenting in this area? If so, I'd
> be really fascinated to know how far they've got
>
> -- when I told my family about this, they all yawned and said the
> technology has potentially been around for years, but then half of them are
> designers. Have I missed a memo, or does this sound as groundbreaking to
> you as it does to me?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Kate
>
>
> (also at [log in to unmask])
>
> @nmdcnews
>
>
****************************************************************
website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
[un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************
|