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“Cyberpals!/Les Cybercopains!”: A Look at Online Museum Visitor Experiences
Author(s) -
Soren Barbara J.,
Lemelin Nathalie
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
curator: the museum journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.312
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2151-6952
pISSN - 0011-3069
DOI - 10.1111/j.2151-6952.2004.tb00366.x
Subject(s) - visitor pattern , world wide web , variety (cybernetics) , general partnership , web presence , web 2.0 , computer science , the internet , business , finance , artificial intelligence , programming language
This article examines approaches to creating museum Web sites that offer quality experiences to online users. In six case studies, museum Web developers in the U.S. and Canada describe how they have made the most of available human and financial resources. The development history of each site offers insights into the origins of a design and its subsequent versions, and describes the influence of institutional missions, philosophies, success indicators—and financial and human resources, the most crucial factors. The study found considerable variety in the backgrounds, expertise, titles and training of people developing Web sites within institutions. Web teams developed “exchange” experiences through online discussion, and by creating links among users, or between museum staff and users. In three case studies, Web sites encouraged visitors to cycle between online and on‐site museum visits. Web developers describe using quantitative and qualitative online audience research strategies. WebTrends TM software has enabled Web teams to report complex log analyses. Creating online experiences in partnership with users is the intention of Web developers.