Museum in the Era of Digital Technology

Vesna Mikelić ; Aleksandra Stanković ; Vesna Pavlović

Review of the National Center for Digitization, Tome 24 (2014) no. 1.

Résumé

The advance in digitization and its practical use in museology have contributed to the preservation, promotion and application of digitized material in the virtual world of digital technologies. The appearance of new technologies in museology has made available a new method of presenting museum collections by developing a concept of virtual exhibitions. Thus, museums are able to conceptualise and actualise exhibitions beyond galleries in real space and time. Additionally, through various virtual exhibitions they transfer collections into the world of Internet galleries. As a consequence, cultural heritage starts to transcend national and regional borders and becomes a part of global heritage. Contrary to traditional models of presentation of cultural heritage, virtual exhibitions allow us to have a system of information management that enhances mobility and proves to be more dynamic and creative. Virtual exhibitions are not only more accessible to wider audience, they also have a simpler approach to collections, provide replacement and protection of the original and make material more accessible. Furthermore, they open new possibilities of material exchange and loans, which can result in a positive financial outcome. This application of digital technologies provides an easier access to cultural heritage, improves its protection level, and contributes to the development of Informational society.