科技博物館展示形態之發展趨勢

The Development Trend of Exhibition Types

吳淑華

《科技博物》 2卷1期 (1998/01) Pp. 14-20

https://doi.org/10.6432/TMR.199801.0014

並列摘要

Museums first appeared in Europe, and subsequently they developed in both North America and Europe to their current state. The earliest museums were specifically designed for certain groups of people and consisted of little more than static displays of collected items.
Over the years, museums have evolved into their present roles as collectors, exhibitors, researchers and educators. At the same time exhibits have grown from simple displays of a few artifacts and exhibition labels to complex and varied set-ups incorporating a number of media.
Displays designed to educate the visitor are a key bridge between the museum and the public. Naturally the easiest way to display things is to simply set them out and invite people over to look at them, but this is little more advanced than the displays you would find on the shelves at your local grocer. In fact most museum displays will have one or more of the following characteristics:
1. Static exhibition, including scale models and labels that display information
2. Image exhibition, which may be in 2D, 3D or other forms
3. Demonstrations exhibition, in which a trained tour guide delivers the information directly to the viewers
4. Motion exhibition, which present information when they are activated by the visitor
5. Question and answer, which most commonly use the multiple-choice method to test visitors' knowledge and educate them on a subject
6. Experiential displays, which feature an experiment or demonstration that the visitor himself/herself can carry out.
In recent years more and more museums-especially those which are science and technology related-utilize many types of advanced media technology such as computers and robots. The point of all these is not only to create 'an ideal environment to stimulate learning by the museum visitor'. In a society with a wide variety of sources for value systems there is no so-called perfect form, all that can be done is to find the form which will appeal to the largest amount of people. But then this form may not meet the objectives of the museum and its objectives.
In numerous visits to foreign museums while training and studying overseas, I have noticed that the exhibition methods used do not very widely from museum to museum. The rapid development of science and technology, however, has had an effect on the forms used in exhibits. Since the opening of the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industries in Paris in 1986 this has been generally recognized. The extensive and highly creative use of multimedia, interactive computers and rich data models all help museum visitors to understand the contents of the exhibits.
The museum also has a generous amount of space in its exhibit areas for use in demonstrations and performances, for example an exhibition of the latest in satellite cloud-mapping technology which makes a very strong impression on those who have seen it. In general the displays in the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industries in Paris are lively and imaginative and are very good at stirring up interest among the people who visit the museum.
Other science and technology-related museums do not necessarily employ the latest in display methods and media but will usually have their own special features.
1. Palais de la Decouvert
This museum puts particular emphasis on demonstrations in its displays. Each exhibition theme has a space reserved near the exhibits to stage small demonstrations or lectures.
2. Forum des Science
This compact museum is perhaps best described as ”small in scale but big in concept.” It makes up for lack of space with creativity in its displays. Exhibits are lively and highly interactive and often involve visitors directly in demonstrations that help them to learn more than they might have thought possible.
There are also many displays for children which combine education with entertainment. The materials used here were designed and produced to be small, easy-to-handle and operate teaching aids.
3. Futuroscope
Futuroscope features a dozen of the newest media from around the world including a 3D theater similar to the one here Kaohsiung as well as a large-screen 2D theater. The exterior architecture of the theaters is very geometric in design and gives you the feeling of entering the future as you walk in. The museum has reportedly become a popular gathering place for young and old alike in Paris.
Another museum worth visiting is the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. While not a museum of science and technology, it features many interesting exhibits with excellent use of projected images and lighting of the displays.
The so-called ”image media” use electronically-processed optics to present a wide range of images. This type of medium is very popular in displays for the color and life that it adds to the space around it, and visitors enjoy the rich experience that it brings. Advances in science and technology have introduced a tremendous number of different areas of video media which have expanded the number of tools available to the designer of displays. From the museum's educational role, however, the use of a single medium can often be ineffective or unclear. P. de Monotebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum in the US, notes that ”a museum is a living thing, so why must it transcend the ages, and why cannot it step back a bit occasionally in the interest of making the museum and its exhibits a memorable experience for the visitor?” This 'experience' should not be a result of the impact of media alone, especially in the complex, multi-faceted society that we live in. The museum visit should cover a multitude of different experience which will appeal to a variety of people. Thus no matter how much science and technology may advance and the ways of explaining them may develop, the basic needs for education and enjoyment will never change.