Project Title: The Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera
Museum/ Institution: Detroit Institute of Arts
Program Created: 2011
Media Category: Handheld/Mobile Multimedia
Program URL (if available): http://www.acoustiguidetours.com/rivera/RIVERA_TOUR11-7.swf
Project Image(s) and/or Video:
Media Source(s)/Credit(s):
Rivera Court environment images:
http://newmedia.nmu.edu/Articles_%26_News/Entries/2011/9/13_Going_Deep_With_Rivea.html
iPad images:
http://guideonemobile.com/apps/RiveraCourt/
Program Description:
The Detroit Industry murals by Diego Rivera fill the walls within an atrium at the Detroit Institute of Arts (http://www.dia.org/). To illuminate these complex panels the DIA offers a iPad-based guide available on loan. Before getting into the main content visitors pass through two short mandatory steps. First, they choose an English or Spanish audio channel. After a brief introduction by a curator the exploring begins. Wherever the visitor begins they're first offered a short tutorial. The homepage offers two basic avenues: "choose a tour" or "choose images to explore." Each offers five 10-minute themes: A Web of Imagery, Rivera's Message, Blending Traditions, Making the Murals, Then and Now. The contents include archival and modern action and still shots accompanied by audio. The visitor's eye is often directed from the monitor to related points of interest on the walls. Concluding chapters offer a "take another look" function with concise reviews. The second avenue of exploration, "choose images to explore," shows entire walls with hotspots indicated. Directional arrows rotate the room for viewing different walls. Clicking hotspots begins guided mini-tours. Both main avenues utilize the same content but one is more linear while the other is more web-like.
Firsthand or secondary review/critique:
By appealing to the mind, eye, and ear the program successfully illuminates the many influences and themes in Rivera's art. Although the Interface benefits from large type and bold graphics I found the layout a little busy. The tutorial is useful but I have mixed feelings about such aids. I appreciate such consideration shown for visitors but the very fact that a tutorial is deemed necessary indicates an interface that could be more intuitive. The embedded still photos and videos nicely illustrate the content but they're also somewhat lo-res. In addition, some of the archival video hasn't been adjusted to avoid the sped-up quality of old footage played on modern equipment. That said, even in the problematic instances the image quality is certainly adequate. Vivid sound effects create an engaging multi-sensory experience. You don't just see a huge conveyor-belt, you hear it as well. The audio voice-over alternates between a tour narrator and various scholars in complimentary fashion. Throughout these back and forth transitions the volume and fidelity remains consistent and high quality. However given the many languages spoken in cities the size of Detroit, and the number of foreign visitors to museums, it would be nice if the guide offered more than just Spanish and English as options. Although a few design/execution issues could be improved upon, on balance I found this program an extremely well-conceived, well-executed, appropriate, and effective use of mobile audio-visual technology.
Technologies incorporated: iPad
Internally or externally produced:
GuideOne Mobile:
(http://guideonemobile.com/index.php)
Acoustiguide:
(http://www.acoustiguide.com/)
Entry Contributor and Date: Clay Williams, 02/23/12
Related projects: MoMA (NYC) recently introduced an iPad app for exploring its collection of abstract expressionism: http://www.moma.org/explore/mobile/abexnyapp
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