I worked for a company that specialized in design/build of interactive science exhibits globally and while I wasn't directly involved with creative being in pro

I worked for a company that specialized in design/build of interactive science exhibits globally and while I wasn't directly involved with creative being in proximity to the day-to-day process gave the opportunity to think deeply about where the museum experience's relevance is moving in society (especially in the context of "digital native" generations). I think there is a huge opportunity for a software platform to offer "relevance as a service" to museums. Not at all to imply that "relevance can simply be purchased, plug-n-play" but that a well-designed software platform could present the opportunity for museums to build relevance into the lives of its eventual visitors by connecting with them and providing meaningful experience's in various digital realms far before their actual brick-and-mortar visit. In my mind the company that builds this platform looks less like a communications company and more like Disney/Pixar. It would build, as some of its primary assets, characters (not unlike a Disney character) that have their own personalities. These personalities would have child-friendly conversational AI. This company would work with educators in the communities to craft supplementary education experience's using these characters. These experiences would be accessible free to the students via any mobile device or VR/AR. Eventually the company will have created narratives and personalities that are contextualizing topics which are usually somewhat abstract, like history or science. Then this company would work with museums to integrate this ongoing narrative into the museums exhibits. Perhaps the virtual characters would extend their presence into the museum with ready-made, indivualized tours for each student based on their shown interests. Ultimately the company will have built a platform which could offer up freemium and premium services and content to both museums and parents wanting to supplement their child's education (think Leapfrog). I know there is resistance to the idea of "edutainment" sometimes but I think the idea isn't "to stay relevant we must entertain" but instead "to stay relevant we must verse ourselves in today's prevailing medium". With digital natives, it is more true than ever, that the medium is the message. If the museums message is so antiquated as to ask the visitor to bend to its form in order to derive relevance it will loose out to more accommodative formats.