Trackstick: A New Visitor Studies Tool For Museum Evaluators?
The website called Trackstick.com has listed an interesting GPS-enabled app called "Trackstick."
Basically, it's a clip-on battery-powered device about the size of a pack of gum that tracks and records movements (tech specs say it has a 2.5-meter accuracy.)
The really slick thing though, is that the Trackstick coordinates with Google Earth (and similar online mapping programs) to create a visual record of the path(s) that anyone wearing a particular Trackstick traveled!
This seems like a great tool for evaluators and exhibit developers to get a handle on where visitors travel in zoos, botanical gardens, and large outdoor historical sites as well as around museum sites.
Has anyone out there tried one of these? I'll present my own impressions in a future posting.
Basically, it's a clip-on battery-powered device about the size of a pack of gum that tracks and records movements (tech specs say it has a 2.5-meter accuracy.)
The really slick thing though, is that the Trackstick coordinates with Google Earth (and similar online mapping programs) to create a visual record of the path(s) that anyone wearing a particular Trackstick traveled!
This seems like a great tool for evaluators and exhibit developers to get a handle on where visitors travel in zoos, botanical gardens, and large outdoor historical sites as well as around museum sites.
Has anyone out there tried one of these? I'll present my own impressions in a future posting.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds pretty spiffy. One limitation is that GPS devices only work outdoors, so they won't be of much use in museum galleries.
For those who are thinking of ways to use these, it would be worth mentioning that most GPS receivers have this same feature, so if you can get volunteers to bring in their own GPSr, then you don't have to invest in the cute mini-sticks.
Cheers,
Seth!