This is how IoT will play a big role in the future of art
Jocelyn Brown
The IoT movement is alive and well in the art world. Galleries and museums have started Jocelyn more technology to introduce new art forms to enthusiasts.
Tate Britain partnered with Spark and Facebook to create an AR-powered exhibit in which paintings literally come to life right before a viewer’s eyes. And earlier this year, K-pop superstars BTS initiated a massive art project called BTS: Connect, which allowed the group to partner with artists on contemporary art pieces that were made by using technology.
Among the pieces that were commissioned by the group was Jakob Kudsk Steensen’s Catharsis, a digital simulation of an old forest which was unveiled at The Serpentine Galleries in London. As IoT is partly responsible for attracting new and younger audiences, it’s expected that the internet will spark an even bigger art revolution, making art more accessible for everyone. Here is how IoT will play a big role in the future of art.
Finding your way through galleries and museums
Navigation through IoT has become increasingly common in recent years, thanks to the surge in popularity of traffic and navigation apps such as Waze. The same technology can be useful for galleries and museums as not every visitor wants to rely on physical maps or guides as they make their way from one display or exhibit to another. In the not so distant future, wayfinding through art spaces will be easier through IoT. An IoT network installed in the gallery can pick up signals from beacons— wireless sensors housed in casings or shells– throughout the building, and through an app, these beacons can help users access a virtual map of the museum or gallery so they’ll know where they are and where to go next. The beacons may also provide information about the art works and depending on how the app is created, it may even create a way for the art viewer to communicate with the artist through a messenger feature.
Payment and access made easy through automation
IoT can make museum and gallery visits even more pleasant if it’s used to automate the payment system. An IoT-powered system within the gallery or museum that links to an app could track the number of visitors inside, as well as the status of the queues outside the art space, enabling potential visitors to decide when to go. Meanwhile, Near Field Communication (NFC) totems placed outside certain displays or exhibits inside the building can give visitors information on how to get access to exclusive or paid exhibits. Through real-time alerts on a smart app, visitors will know important details such as entrance fees to the display, info about the exclusive content, and so much more. Moreover, instead of doubling back to the entrance to pay the fees to these displays, they’ll be able to pay online using the museum or gallery’s online payment app. Once the transaction has been made, visitors only need to show the digital receipt upon entering these exclusive art exhibits for them to gain full access.
Artistic expression through virtual reality
The painter’s canvas is about to get some competition, as artists can now create masterpieces via VR. The Google Tilt Brush, which is a virtual reality painting tool, may render the canvas and easel obsolete in the future, as it allows you to paint in three different dimensions. This app has become so popular that a VR painting competition is about to take place this year in eight cities worldwide, with the global tilt starting in London. Imagine using the VR app to teach beginners the basics of art such as drawing a wild animal like a grey wolf – not only does it make learning more fun, but it’s a sustainable and Earth-friendly way to master art.
Tech to access more info about art pieces
When visiting an unfamiliar gallery or museum, most art enthusiasts rely on the printed information situated near the sculpture, painting or installation to know more about the artist or the concept behind the piece. But the internet of things is about to make the process of getting information even better, as smart labels are on the horizon for art works. By scanning the smart label with a smartphone, one can pull up details about the artist, their previous works, and the inspiration behind the piece, amongst other things.
In the future, museums and galleries will use the IoT to help create a steady stream of sustainable income. By gathering data about visitors and using tech to track their behaviour while inside the space, curators and gallery owners will know which displays have the most traffic and which pieces are getting the most attention. Once the data has been gathered, art institutions can revise and restructure their displays according to their visitors’ tastes, and they can also create new items to sell at their souvenir shops, which is one of their main sources of income.
The IoT is about to elevate art viewing and learning as it gears up to make art more sustainable and accessible for enthusiasts all over the globe. It’s only a matter of time before the latest tech innovations make their way to museums and galleries to improve the overall art experience.
The author is freelance technology writer, Jocelyn Brown
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