Something is happening in GVAM. Its CEO, Jaime Solano, reveals the reason for this change. For Jaime, a Doctor of Information Sciences and director of the project, the opportunity for museums today is unmissable. These should not be swayed by technological movement, but rather, make it work to its advantage..
“Mobile apps” are quickly becoming the new buzzwords of mobile technology. What is the reason for this?
Mobile technology is poised to become the main window of access to content. Touch interfaces, and mobile applications especially are leading the way. This simple concept has revolutionized the telecommunications market, and its ripple effect is spreading the revolution to other markets. The apps have changed the way people interact with machines … and brands and institutions must heed this change.
How should museums react to this change?
Museums will face the challenge of developing their first mobile app within the next three years. This will enable them to spread their business through this main window. Moreover, it’s time to replace their traditional guidance systems and these apps will allow them to exploit new forms of income generation.
What would you say to museums that have already taken on this challenge?
I would tell them to do so decisively, without fear, and to choose systems that do not require the user to learn new tools. I would like to be very clear on this point and I would like to enumerate the key points of a good app:
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- It should be multiplatform: ie that it can be published on different devices (iOS, Android, HTML 5 …).
- It should allow you to update and edit the contents: a good content management system or CMS is crucial.
- It should offer multiple distribution models: pay-per-download, free, pay for content packs, etc.
- It should suit the personal settings for each device: for example, it should take advantage of the accessibility options (Voice Over, TalkBalk, high contrast, zoom, etc.) of the operating system itself.
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Adaptation and universal accessibility: these words could define the essence of GVAM
Correct. From the beginning we believed in the idea of creating a single device for all visitors. We achieved our goal, and we were pioneers in doing so. Today we are taking a leap into the future, setting ourselves another goal: to take the concept of Universal Design to the device of every visitor, from a single CMS. To do this, we have carried out an extensive adaptation of our products and services. These changes will be apparent in the new GVAM site, which will launch very soon.
