An Exploratory Study on the Role of Websites in Gastronomy Museum Dialogic Communication

Rooted in the dialogic communication model, the main objective of this study is to analyse the interactivity level of websites of gastronomy museums in Turkey. Thus, it will be unearthed whether gastronomy museums are progressing towards more dialogic or are staying informative systems with the relationship with their target audience. Via content analysis on websites, two questions were sought: (1) What kind of tools are utilized to present information? (2) What tools or resources are utilized on websites to interact with virtual visitors? The data were analysed by comparing private and public museums. The results indicate that the websites of gastronomy museums in Turkey have a medium level of interaction in presenting information and a low level of interaction in the tools available to virtual visitors. And thus, it can be said that museums use their websites for one-way communication, which are not fit for dialogic communication. This is valid for both private and public museums. Managerial implications were discussed, and future research directions are presented.

Measuring the Impact of Museum Architecture, Spaces and Exhibits on Virtual Visitors Using Facial Expression Analysis Software

Since the launch of online video portals in 2005, museums have encouraged visitors to upload and share their visits online. Although much has been written about visitors’ experiences in museums, very little exists on the impact virtual visits have on viewers. In this qualitative pilot study, a total of 2035 emotional reactions were recorded and analyzed after visiting 14 online museums using a facial expression recognition software. Following open and axial coding techniques, themes and subcategories emerged. Findings showed that while the background of the participant mediated how one experiences a museum online, certain architectural and exhibit attributes, if present, triggered similar emotions to those experienced in an in-person visit. Findings suggest that experiencing museums through online video portals may be as engaging as visiting museums in person—only if the creator captures a significant proportion of architectural details, transitioning of spaces and exhibits details. Further findings showed that facial expression software reveals what captures virtual visitors’ emotions, and what architectural and exhibit features keep them curious and engaged.

Web Analytics as a tool for analyzing a network resource with a variety of sources on the archaeological research materials

Despite the already introduced concept of Webometrics, the visitors counter has considered as a main indicator of the effectiveness of the museum open sources. The article presents the statistical data and observations made during the work on the start-up project “Digital Encyclopedia of the Hermitage. Vol. 1. Archaeology”, as well as during the COVID-19 quarantine period, when communication with virtual visitors became a priority in museums.

Dalyvaujamojo muziejaus paradigma virtualioje Lietuvos muziejų komunikacijoje

Straipsnyje aptariamas 2013 m. pabaigoje autoriaus atliktas Lietuvos muziejų interneto svetainių, paskyrų socialinėje „Facebook“ medijoje turinio ir apsilankymų charakteristikų tyrimas. Juo buvo siekiama įvertinti muziejų ir jų lankytojų pasirengimą virtualioje erdvėje įgyvendinti dalyvaujamojo muziejaus paradigmą. Tyrimo metu surinktų duomenų apie socialinę tinklaveiką skatinančių įrankių kiekį interneto svetainėse, virtualių apsilankymų charakteristikas analizė parodė, jog dauguma Lietuvos muziejų virtualią komunikaciją suvokia ir vykdo pagal industrinės, o ne tinklaveikos visuomenės logiką. Augantis paskyrų ir sąveikų su lankytojais skaičius „Facebook“ socialinėje medijoje liudija lėtus abiejų muziejų lauko veikėjų žingsnius link dalyvaujamojo muziejaus paradigmos įgyvendinimo virtualioje erdvėje.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: dalyvaujamasis muziejus, skaitmeninės medijos, interaktyvumas, tinklaveika, antros kartos saitynas, interneto svetainės, virtualūs lankytojai, „Facebook“. The participatory museum paradigm in virtual communication of Lithuanian museumsIgnas Kapleris SummaryThe article presents a research of Lithuanian museums’ websites and profiles in the social Facebook media content and visits’ characteristics, done by the author in the end of 2013. The aim of the research was to assess the preparation of museums and their visitors for implementing the participatory museum paradigm. The information of social interaction encouraging tools in museum websites and virtual visits’ characteristics gathered in the analysis has shown that most of Lithuanian museums understand virtual communication in the logic inherent to industrial rather than network society. The growing number of museums’ profiles and theis visitors’ interaction in Facebook digital media show that both actors of the museums’ field slowly move towards the realization of the participatory museums’ paradigm in the virtual space.Keywords: participatory museum, digital media, interactivity, Web 2.0, website, virtual visitors, Facebook

Cybercells and the Integration of Actual and Virtual Groups

A cybercell describes the integration of actual and virtual groups in which face to face members extend their discussions to collaborate with virtual visitors (Stevens & Stewart, 2005). Cybercells enable groups of people meeting in physical spaces to engage with virtual visitors using a range of contemporary and emerging technologies. Teachers, for example, are provided with opportunities to discuss their work with other teachers on-site and on-line simultaneously. Students can also discuss their work in classrooms and collaborate with their peers located in other schools who are able to participate in their learning space virtually. By extending one’s learning from actual (face to face) spaces to include virtual visitors, learning environments can be extended.

Cybercells for Virtual Teaching and Learning

A cybercell is a face-to-face group whose members extend their discussion to include virtual visitors (Stevens & Stewart, 2005a). This recent addition to the lexicon of e-learning describes the integration of actual and virtual discussions, meetings, and classes and has particular application in Internet-based networks of schools (Stevens, 2005b). Cybercells provide teachers with opportunities to discuss their respective work with other teachers on-site and online, for students to similarly discuss their work with other students and for teachers to engage students in both actual and virtual environments.