Before using TouchTree, you'll need to determine if the artifact is a good candidate for a touch object. Is the artifact at least one of the following:
* Object unavailable (stolen artifacts)
* Object too small (ancient earring)
* Object too large (marble statue)
* Difficult to explain (conceptual installation)
* Cannot be touched (artifacts that are roped off or behind glass)
* Size relationship needs describing (mammoth bones compared to the size of a human)
[[Start Using TouchTree]]Question 1: Is the museum object three-dimensional?
[[Yes]]
[[No or Unsure|4]]
[[Go back]]Question 2: Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"Question 2: Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"No" to Is the museum object three-dimensional?Question 3: Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?
"Yes" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"Question 3: Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"No" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"Yes" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"Question 4: Is it important for the visitor to understand the layout of the museum object?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"No" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"Yes" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"Yes" to "Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?"Question 4: Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"No" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"No" to "Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?"Question 5: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"No" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"No" to "Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?"
"Yes" to "Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?"Question 5: Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"No" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"No" to "Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?"
"No" to "Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?"Question 6: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"No" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"No" to "Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?"
"No" to "Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?"
"Yes" to "Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?"Question 6: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
Yes
No or Unsure
Go back
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
"Yes" to "Is the museum object three-dimensional?"
"No" to "Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?"
"No" to "Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?"
"No" to "Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?"
"No" to "Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?"Question 2: Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?
[[Yes|2]]
[[No or Unsure|11]]
[[Go back|Start Using TouchTree]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”Question 3: Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?
[[Yes|3]]
[[No or Unsure|23]]
[[Go back|Yes]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. Provide visual description.
[[Go back|2]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”
Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. Provide visual description.Question 2: Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?
[[Yes|6]]
[[No or Unsure|5]]
[[Go back|Start Using TouchTree]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“No” to Is the museum object three-dimensional?Solution: Produce a tactile graphic that fits in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
[[Go back|4]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
Solution: Produce a tactile graphic that fits in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS
Tactile graphics should be made of 2D museum objects, such as photographs and paintings (Race et al.).
Tactile graphics give a map of the composition, such as the layout of symbols on a museum object. However, the aesthetic of the original museum object may not read through (Race et al.).
There are different methods of printing tactile graphics, such as embossing, vacuuform, and swell form.
SOME RESOURCES FOR CREATING TACTILE GRAPHICS
Braille Authority. (n.d.). Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. https://www.brailleauthority.org/tg/web-manual/index.html
Equal Entry. (2023). How to Create an Effective Tactile Graphic. https://equalentry.com/create-tactile-graphics/Question 3: Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?
[[Yes|7]]
[[No or Unsure|9]]
[[Go back|4]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”Question 4: Is it important for the visitor to understand the layout of the museum object?
[[Yes|8]]
[[No or Unsure|10]]
[[Go back|6]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. In addition, produce a tactile graphic that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so the visitor understands the content of the original museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
[[Go back|7]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”
“Yes” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the layout of the artifact?”
Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. In addition, produce a tactile graphic that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so the visitor understands the content of the original museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS
Tactile graphics should be made of 2D museum objects, such as photographs and paintings (Race et al.).
Tactile graphics give a map of the composition, such as the layout of symbols on a museum object. However, the aesthetic of the original museum object may not read through (Race et al.).
There are different methods of printing tactile graphics, such as embossing, vacuuform, and swell form.
SOME RESOURCES FOR CREATING TACTILE GRAPHICS
Braille Authority. (n.d.). Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. https://www.brailleauthority.org/tg/web-manual/index.html
Equal Entry. (2023). How to Create an Effective Tactile Graphic. https://equalentry.com/create-tactile-graphics/Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. In addition, produce a tactile graphic that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so the visitor understands the content of the original museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
[[Go back|6]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”
Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. In addition, produce a tactile graphic that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so the visitor understands the content of the original museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and tactile graphic.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS
Tactile graphics should be made of 2D museum objects, such as photographs and paintings (Race et al.).
Tactile graphics give a map of the composition, such as the layout of symbols on a museum object. However, the aesthetic of the original museum object may not read through (Race et al.).
There are different methods of printing tactile graphics, such as embossing, vacuuform, and swell form.
SOME RESOURCES FOR CREATING TACTILE GRAPHICS
Braille Authority. (n.d.). Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. https://www.brailleauthority.org/tg/web-manual/index.html
Equal Entry. (2023). How to Create an Effective Tactile Graphic. https://equalentry.com/create-tactile-graphics/Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. Provide visual description.
[[Go back|7]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“No” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”
“No” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the layout of the artifact?”
Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the object directly. Provide gloves and/or supervision if needed. Provide visual description.Question 3: Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?
[[Yes|12]]
[[No or Unsure|13]]
[[Go back|Yes]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”Solution: Commission someone to create a replica of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the replica and the original museum object.
[[Go back|11]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“Yes” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
Solution: Commission someone to create a replica of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual description.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMISSIONING REPLICAS
Acquiring commissioned replicas of museum objects will require more research on the museum’s rights and copyright policies.
It’s best to commission the original artist to create a replica of the museum object (Race et al.). If commissioning the original artist isn’t possible, it may be possible to commission a different artisan, depending on the museum’s rights to the object.
It’s important to consider the ethical implications of acquiring a replica from a different artisan. For example, it may be inappropriate to commission an artisan to create a replica of an article of clothing that belongs to a specific culture if they aren’t a part of that culture.
If commissioning a replica, it’s best to have the artisan scale the original museum object to a size that the visitor can hold entirely. That way, the replica is more accessible to touch.Question 4: Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?
[[Yes|14]]
[[No or Unsure|16]]
[[Go back|11]]
PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”Question 5: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
[[Yes|15]]
[[No or Unsure|19]]
[[Go back|13]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“Yes” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”Solution: Acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the museum object, reproduction, and simple model.
[[Go back|14]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“Yes” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes related to its usage or creation?”
Solution: Acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the museum object, reproduction, and simple model.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR REPRODUCTIONS
Reproductions of museum objects may be purchased models, which can be effective if they are high resolution and provide enough tactile information as close as possible to the original museum object (Race et al.).
Reproductions should be large enough to depict detail but small enough to fit in the visitor’s hands (Race et al.).
Some manufacturing houses specifically produce reproductions or models.
Some reproductions may also be available on websites like eBay. However, reproductions on these websites may be very limited and can require long wait periods until one is available to purchase.
When choosing a museum object to create a reproduction for, select an object of a unique time period. A reproduction of this museum object shouldn’t be commonly found in homes, as most visitors would already know what that object feels like (Race et al.).
Reproductions of museum objects may not match all the same attributes as the original museum object. But depending on the key attribute(s) you want to highlight, it may not be necessary to have a completely accurate reproduction (though the closer it is to matching the original museum object, the better).
Visual descriptions of the reproductions should explain the differences in scale between the reproduction and the original museum object (Race et al.).Question 5: Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?
[[Yes|17]]
[[No or Unsure|20]]
[[Go back|13]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”Question 6: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
[[Yes|18]]
[[No or Unsure|22]]
[[Go back|16]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“Yes” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”Solution: Produce a tactile graphic of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Include a sample of the textured material (eg. fabric). In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Include visual descriptions of the original museum object, tactile graphic, sample, and simple model.
[[Go back|17]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“Yes” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?”
Solution: Produce a tactile graphic of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Include a sample of the textured material (eg. fabric). In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Include visual descriptions of the original museum object, tactile graphic, sample, and simple model.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS
Tactile graphics should be made of 2D museum objects, such as photographs and paintings (Race et al.).
Tactile graphics give a map of the composition, such as the layout of symbols on a museum object. However, the aesthetic of the original museum object may not read through (Race et al.).
There are different methods of printing tactile graphics, such as embossing, vacuuform, and swell form.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR FOUND MATERIAL SAMPLES
Found material samples alone aren’t a good solution, because visitors know what most materials and textures feel like. But they can be effective as a supplement to a touch object that captures the whole museum object (Race et al.).
Found material samples are particularly helpful if the material isn’t commonly found outside of a museum (Race et al.).Solution: Acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and the reproduction.
[[Go back|14]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“Yes” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“No” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes related to its usage or creation?”
Solution: Acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and the reproduction.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR REPRODUCTIONS
Reproductions of museum objects may be purchased models, which can be effective if they are high resolution and provide enough tactile information as close as possible to the original museum object (Race et al.).
Reproductions should be large enough to depict detail but small enough to fit in the visitor’s hands (Race et al.).
Some manufacturing houses specifically produce reproductions or models.
Some reproductions may also be available on websites like eBay. However, reproductions on these websites may be very limited and can require long wait periods until one is available to purchase.
When choosing a museum object to create a reproduction for, select an object of a unique time period. A reproduction of this museum object shouldn’t be commonly found in homes, as most visitors would already know what that object feels like (Race et al.).
Reproductions of museum objects may not match all the same attributes as the original museum object. But depending on the key attribute(s) you want to highlight, it may not be necessary to have a completely accurate reproduction (though the closer it is to matching the original museum object, the better).
Visual descriptions of the reproductions should explain the differences in scale between the reproduction and the original museum object (Race et al.).Question 6: Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?
[[Yes|21]]
[[No or Unsure|24]]
[[Go back|16]]
YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ANSWERED
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“No” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”Solution: 3D print a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object, 3D print, and simple model.
[[Go back|20]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“No” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”
“Yes” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?”
Solution: 3D print a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. In addition, provide a simple model that describes important processes related to the museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object, 3D print, and simple model.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR 3D PRINTING
3D scans of museum objects can be scaled up or down so they’re more accessible to touch (Race et al.).
To get an accurate 3D print (marks, cuts, stipulations), you will need a high resolution 3D scan of your museum object (Race et al.).
It’s easy to replace broken parts of a 3D print by printing a replacement component (Museum Next 2020).
3D prints can be stored in a separate room and circulated whenever needed (Museum Next 2020).
3D prints may not effectively replicate the same feel and texture of the original museum object, since they are made of varying types of plastic (Museum Next 2020).
Museums may need to establish connections with companies or educational institutions that offer 3D scanning and printing facilities. Alternatively, museums may consider developing an in-house team to facilitate an ongoing collection of 3D printed touch objects.Solution: Produce a tactile graphic of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Include a sample of the textured material (eg. fabric). Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object, tactile graphic, and sample material.
[[Go back|17]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“Yes” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”
“No” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?”
Solution: Produce a tactile graphic of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Include a sample of the textured material (eg. fabric). Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object, tactile graphic, and sample material.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTILE GRAPHICS
Tactile graphics should be made of 2D museum objects, such as photographs and paintings (Race et al.).
Tactile graphics give a map of the composition, such as the layout of symbols on a museum object. However, the aesthetic of the original museum object may not read through (Race et al.).
There are different methods of printing tactile graphics, such as embossing, vacuuform, and swell form.
SOME RESOURCES FOR CREATING TACTILE GRAPHICS
Braille Authority. (n.d.). Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. https://www.brailleauthority.org/tg/web-manual/index.html
Equal Entry. (2023). How to Create an Effective Tactile Graphic. https://equalentry.com/create-tactile-graphics/
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR FOUND MATERIAL SAMPLES
Found material samples alone aren’t a good solution, because visitors know what most materials and textures feel like. But they can be effective as a supplement to a touch object that captures the whole museum object (Race et al.).
Found material samples are particularly helpful if the material isn’t commonly found outside of a museum (Race et al.).Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. In addition, acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so that the visitor has a complete understanding of the entire museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and the reproduction.
[[Go back|2]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“Yes” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Does the museum object fit in the visitor’s hands?”
Solution: Allow the visitor to touch the museum object directly. In addition, acquire a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands, so that the visitor has a complete understanding of the entire museum object. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and the reproduction.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR REPRODUCTIONS
Reproductions of museum objects may be purchased models, which can be effective if they are high resolution and provide enough tactile information as close as possible to the original museum object (Race et al.).
Reproductions should be large enough to depict detail but small enough to fit in the visitor’s hands (Race et al.).
Some manufacturing houses specifically produce reproductions or models.
Some reproductions may also be available on websites like eBay. However, reproductions on these websites may be very limited and can require long wait periods until one is available to purchase.
When choosing a museum object to create a reproduction for, select an object of a unique time period. A reproduction of this museum object shouldn’t be commonly found in homes, as most visitors would already know what that object feels like (Race et al.).
Reproductions of museum objects may not match all the same attributes as the original museum object. But depending on the key attribute(s) you want to highlight, it may not be necessary to have a completely accurate reproduction (though the closer it is to matching the original museum object, the better).
Visual descriptions of the reproductions should explain the differences in scale between the reproduction and the original museum object (Race et al.).Solution: 3D print a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and 3D print.
[[Go back|20]]
[[Restart Decision Tree|Start Using TouchTree]]
RESPONSE RECORD
“Yes” to “Is the museum object three-dimensional?”
“No” to “Can the visitor touch the museum object directly?”
“No” to “Can you commission someone to create a replica of the museum object?”
“No” to “Does an accurate reproduction of the museum object already exist?”
“Yes” to “Is it important for the visitor to understand the museum object’s texture?”
“No” to “Does the museum object have to convey important processes, like physical mechanisms or artistic techniques?”
Solution: 3D print a reproduction of the museum object that is scaled to fit in the visitor’s hands. Provide visual descriptions of the original museum object and 3D print.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR 3D PRINTING
3D scans of museum objects can be scaled up or down so they’re more accessible to touch (Race et al.).
To get an accurate 3D print (marks, cuts, stipulations), you will need a high resolution 3D scan of your museum object (Race et al.).
It’s easy to replace broken parts of a 3D print by printing a replacement component (Museum Next 2020).
3D prints can be stored in a separate room and circulated whenever needed (Museum Next 2020).
3D prints may not effectively replicate the same feel and texture of the original museum object, since they are made of varying types of plastic (Museum Next 2020).
Museums may need to establish connections with companies or educational institutions that offer 3D scanning and printing facilities. Alternatively, museums may consider developing an in-house team to facilitate an ongoing collection of 3D printed touch objects.
↶↷Before using TouchTree, you'll need to determine if the artifact is a good candidate for a touch object. Is the artifact at least one of the following:
- Object unavailable (stolen artifacts)
- Object too small (ancient earring)
- Object too large (marble statue)
- Difficult to explain (conceptual installation)
- Cannot be touched (artifacts that are roped off or behind glass)
- Size relationship needs describing (mammoth bones compared to the size of a human)
Start Using TouchTree